My neighbor’s hollyhocks are blooming again. They tower over her garden with huge flowers and I admit to being a wee bit jealous. The old-fashioned garden hollyhock of my childhood storybooks is also called Althaea rosea. They are native to the Mediterranean region which means they make perfect flowers for a low water yard. See? Read More…
Category: garden inspiration
Hot Pink Flowering Bougainvillea
Here’s a quick late night Friday Floral for you; the bougainvilleas are blooming here in southern California, and putting on quite a show. Their colors can range from purple to reds, pinks or white, but my favorites are the hot pink versions. This one is climbing over a fence in my neighborhood. Once they get Read More…
Fall Planting Tips: 3 Flowering Succulent Plants For Drought Tolerant Gardens And Containers
Succulents are plants that are able to store water in their stems and leaves, enabling them to live for long periods of time without water. They are similar to cactus but without the thorns (usually). This is a very large grouping of plants with many different colors, leaf shapes and growth habits. Most flowering succulent Read More…
Plant Profile: Desert Willows, Chilopsis Make Good Choices for Fall Planting in Dry Southern California Gardens
Yes, it’s going to be 90 today, but my Favorite Time of the Year is just around the corner! It’s almost time for Fall Planting Season. This is your chance to decide what your personal landscape will look like next year – and how much money you are willing to give to the DWP each Read More…
Toyon: Red and Green California Christmas Holly
This is Toyon, also called California Christmas Berry or Christmas Holly or Heteromeles arbutifolia. These beautiful shrubs are prized for their bright red berries and deep green leaves. This is a fan-tab-ulous alternative to regular Holly (Ilex) when you need something drought-tolerant for your garden AND a little something for the birds and the bees Read More…
Sprouting Amaryllis, Daffodils, Calla and Freesia, Happy New Year From theGardenPages
This New Year’s Day I have sprouting amaryllis, daffodils and freesia bulbs in the garden. We’ve had a bit of rain in Los Angeles, so there are a few bulbs that take this as their cue to get an early start on spring flowers. I am enchanted by the fragrance of freesias. I pick them Read More…
Where To Find Free Seed Starting Equipment For Your Garden
It’s easy to find seed starting containers for your vegetables, flowers and plant cuttings, without spending any extra money. Containers of every shape and size are all around. Here are a few I found in my kitchen: A clear plastic lettuce container with lid, it’s about a foot wide and good 8 inches across. This Read More…
Quick Ideas For Red, White And Blue Flowers For A Patriotic Garden
I was driving around and saw this patriotic display of petunias. I thought it would be fun to compile a quick list of red, white and blue flowers to put together for a patriotic display this 4th of July. Here are a few you can group together including a few shade ideas. RED: petunia; salvia; Read More…
River Rock and Limestone Mosaic Garden Fence Inspiration
Looking for ways to dress up your plain block wall? Here’s a fun idea I saw driving around. This beautiful wall is built from river rocks, flat stones, limestone and other cool material. It runs for about half a city block. It is a ‘real’ wall, built out of stone. It must’ve taken forever to Read More…