One thing I love about wildlife is that they don’t mind if my garden gets a tad messy. As long as the place is clean (no pesticides), they’re going for the atmosphere—free food in a diner that’s open all year. This combo platter of shrimp plant and oxa... »
I love it when cloudy days in spring fool the fall asters (and many autumn perennials) to bloom along with the larkspurs. Even though we got a break this winter with rain and mild temperatures, the insects got a break too. They’re just as thrilled as ... »
Yessiree, we all got spring early when many plants bloomed a month ahead of schedule. But I got one last blast with this Dutch iris on April 1. Guess it wanted to fool us. Peggy Martin is not fooling around this year. She’s finally got her feet in the ... »
Well, if you had a year or so to read this post, I can show you everything that’s blooming in my garden! Since I know you’re busy, here’s just a sampling that doesn’t include “D is for Drought” in their vocabulary. One is Narcissus ‘Gigantic Star’, a ... »
Valentine’s Day started early with my potted carnation! I love everything about it: color, fragrance, blue-green foliage, long-lasting cut flowers. Drought tough. If anything, they hate too much water, and demand perfect drainage. Two years ago when I... »
Somebody thinks it’s spring! I treasure fragrant old-fashioned petunias for cascading perfume in my spring and summer patio containers. Warm winter days prompted an energetic splurge at the base of a potted sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans). Since they’... »
Mush, schmush. Some plants went down in the early freeze, but the mums barely shivered. ‘Country Girl’ chrysanthemums expect a vase on the Christmas table, though the faltering asters will be gone by then. To tidy up a bit, I clipped off rain-drenched ... »
By golly, I have more plants in the ground than in the compost pile. Some look a little winded after this hard run, but if they made it through 2011, they can handle anything. One is my Salvia microphylla ‘La Trinidad Pink’. It’s only been here since a... »
Last week, we taped a lawn-free garden that will air in 2012. I love the way that Anne uses grasses, yuccas, and agaves for vertical distinction against free-flow natives that nectar hosts of winged visitors. Here’s a nice duo: Lindheimer muhly and and... »
