Book Review: The Flower Recipe Book
Karen Meyers Authors and floral designers, Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo introduce readers to the recipe approach to floral design that makes flower arranging accessible to anyone that wants to try their…
Common Diseases of Tomatoes and Their Control: Bacterial Spot
Bacterial spot is caused by several species of Xanthomonas, most commonly X. perforans, and is more prevalent in warm (75-86 F) humid climates with frequent rainfall (or overhead watering). The…
Plant Profile: Lanceleaf Liveforever (Dudleya lanceolata)
Karen Native to the mountains of southern California and Baja California, where it is found in rocky areas and slopes, this evergreen perennial succulent is a member of the stonecrop family,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Lemon (Citrus limon)
The lemon is a small evergreen tree in the rue family, Rutaceae, that also includes curry tree, kumquat, and Skimmia. Native to Northeast India and Northern Myanmar, lemons probably are…
Plant Profile: Purple Needle Grass (Stipa pulchra aka Nassella pulchra)
This perennial bunch grass is native to California where it grows in a variety of habitats including grassland, chaparral and oak woodland. It is a member of the grass family…
Book Review: It’s Spring!
Linda Glaser’s book, It’s Spring!, celebrates the spring as seen through the eyes of a young boy. Written in the first person, the book explores the sensory delights that spring…
Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects: Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea/ coerulea)
This herbaceous perennial is native to the Rocky Mountain states from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico where it grows in rich, moist, well-drained soil It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Butterfly Mariposa (Calochortus venustus)
This herbaceous perennial is endemic to California where it grows in sandy soils of grasslands and open wooded areas of the mountains and foothills. It is a member of the…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Garland Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium aka Glebionis coronaria)
Also known as crown daisy and edible chrysanthemum, this cool weather annual is native to the Mediterranean region and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes…
Plant Profile: Hairy Ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus)
Native to dry habitats on the coastal mountains of California and Baja California, this evergreen shrub is a member of the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, that also includes jujube tree and…