Plant Profile: Sticky Phacelia (Phacelia viscida)
Karen Also known as tacky phacelia and scorpion weed, this annual is native to the coastal hills and mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California where it grows…
Book Review: World Atlas of Tea
Karen Meyers The World Atlas of Tea by tea mixologist, Krisi Smith, is a general introduction to tea from its cultivation, harvesting and processing to the unique flavors of teas grown in…
Poisonous Plants: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera and is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plant Profile: Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
This evergreen shrub or small tree is native to the desert chaparral areas of the Mohave desert, coastal California, Baja California and Baja California Sur and is a member of…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine: Western Cider
The dictionary tells us that cider is a fermented or unfermented drink made from fruit, usually apples. My paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, devoted considerable space to various aspects of…
Plant Profile: Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum)
Endemic to California and Baja California where it grows in chaparral, foothill oak woodlands, and closed-cone pine forests, this deciduous shrub is a member of the gooseberry family, Grossulariaceae, that…
Book Review: The Flower Recipe Book
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)
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…