Oh no not again. It’s that time of summer when my horticultural leanings get swayed towards a favorite plant, and for the week of July 4th, it’s lavender.
Are you a lavender-lover too?
It’s definitely a perennial/shrub/herb to get behind, especially because you can treat SOME lavender species as a perennial in zones that go well below freezing. [Read more]
Creeping fig vine (Ficus pumila) is one of my favorite evergreen vines and a useful plant choice for so many situations.
In this case, take a look at the two photos where creeping fig grows along brick stairs; it’s a nice detail where plant and architecture marry.
One of the reasons it works so well…? [Read more]
Where garden space is limited but appetite is not, one clever idea is to consider a space saving techniques like espalier. What does it mean to espalier you ask?
Definition: (verb) To train a tree or shrub to grow flat against a wall.
Believe it or not you can buy many kinds of fruit trees (apples yes) already trained as espaliers and ready to plant in the ground or a container. [Read more]
I wanted to show you a few photos taken within the past year that are good examples of how combining plants with home architecture can reap lovely rewards.
Sometimes, and in a small front garden, the dominant focal point may be simply a flowering tree as you’ll see below. I think that seasonality plays a huge role here, especially if you are looking for that flowering magnolia or flowering cherry.
But the blossoms will only last so long, so of course you always want to choose a tree that is wonderful out of bloom also; with the right airiness or denseness and size/form. [Read more]
Do you have a dog whose constantly sniffing everything? I do. My dog’s sense of smell has gone through the roof! But here’s the thing, we are not canines but we still go crazy for good smells. I highly recommend planting fragrant plants in your garden to enjoy smells in all seasons. Take a look at some of the fragrant plants below for late winter/early spring here. These all grow fine in USDA zone 10, many can grow in colder zones too, so check for hardiness. [Read more]
Spurge, otherwise known as Euphorbia, is that cool plant you can have just one, or you can get the bug and try out several species. The ones on “Spotlight” here are some of the most popular shrub and ground cover types readily available to buy.
As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been focusing lately on California’s Mediterranean climate with long dry summers…
The Euphorbias discussed below come from another Mediterranean climate region, Europe.
Let’s take a look… [Read more]
There is something so lovely about a hillside garden that emulates the natural scene so much so that it provides tranquility and beauty in all seasons, and absolute vibrancy when flowers peak to create sweeps of color. Late winter might not seem … [Read more]
If you're a modest tree who feels bashful loosing your leaves each winter, forget feeling awkward because you look great! Some trees look exceptional in their birthday suits - stout or slender trunks, giving way to a beautiful network of course … [Read more]
There's no doubt about it! California's recent four year drought has shifted our thinking when it comes to gardening, and landscaping in general. A good example, take a look at San Francisco's landscape sidewalk program. It's been going on for years, … [Read more]
Q: What do you do when you don't have "in-the-ground" garden space, but want to include large scale tree succulents or large scale succulents? A: Containers! A large, suitably sized container won't offend a large succulent, even if it … [Read more]