Plant Profile: Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
Karen 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
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)
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…