Plant Profile: Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
Karen This bushy evergreen flowering shrub is a native of the island Madeira as the common name suggests but is popular along the coast of California where it tolerates drought and…
Red Flowered Perennials for the Rock Garden
There are many shades of red from crimson to scarlet and they all can be used effectively in the garden. Combine dark burgundy with pink or light yellow for a…
Plant Profile: Lupine (Lupinus ) Russell hybrid
The showy three to four foot tall spikes of pea-like flowers in early and mid-summer make Russel hybrid lupines a garden favorite. Bred by George Russell in the early 1900s…
Blue Roses
If you have seen a blue rose it was probably dyed or a shade of purple because there are no true blue roses. Rose chromosomes do not have a gene…
Plant Profile: Matilija Poppy aka California Poppy Tree (Romneya coulteri)
Matilija poppy is a deciduous suckering subshrub native to Southern California and Baja California where it grows and is associated with chaparral and coastal sage scrub plant communities. It is…
Five Vegetables for Vertical Gardening
Space is often a limiting factor in the vegetable garden. Many plants like squash, need a lot of room, and a crop of corn needs even more. One of the…
Plant Profile: Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
Spanish lavender is a bushy evergreen shrubs and native to the Mediterranean area. The pink to purple flowers of are produced in spring and early summer in terminal spikes on…
Book Review: The Perennial Care Manual
Some people may think that perennials are carefree but they are not. To have a well tended perennial garden is a labor of love and help is always welcome. Nancy…
Weeds and Their Control: Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
A common weed in gardens and potted plants, yellow woodsorrel is native to North America and is known throughout continental United States. It is an herbaceous perennial that prefers full…
Plant Profile: Sapphire Tower (Puya alpestris)
Sapphire Tower is a succulent native to the Chilean Andes and in the pineapple family. It produces a rosette of arching gray-green leaves with backward pointing spines on their margins.…