theGardenPages Gardening Blog

Towering, Drought Tolerant Pink Hollyhocks in California for #FloralFriday

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…

Euryops: Drought Tolerant, Fast Growing Winter Flowering Shrubs For Southern California

If you are looking for a nice drought tolerant shrub that flowers almost year-round try Euryops. I planted these as a quick fix for a bare bed about four years ago. I knew they were fairly fast growing and flowered in winter. The plan was to get something started quick and fill in the blank Read More…

What’s Blooming In Southern California This April

Wondering what to plant now that will bloom next spring?  Here are a few heat-resistant, drought-tolerant ideas for you.  All of the plants in my garden are growing on rainfall alone.  Umm, OK, when it was 120 degrees last year I may have given them a little extra water, but that was it, really. I Read More…

Plant Profile: Crassula Ovata or Jade Plant, great succulent plants for dry gardens.

Right now is a perfect time to plant your succulent garden! It’s still cool and we have rain so you don’t have to water! Jades are in bloom right now. Crassula ovata or Jade plants are shrubby succulent plants that make excellent choices for dry gardens and container plants. Xeriscaping with drought tolerant cactus and Read More…

Heat Wave Takes Toll On Southern California Gardens With Sunburned Plants

My plants are frying! OK, so it’s been over 100 degrees here in sunny so Cal for the past few days. That’s OK, it’s called summer, we learned about this in school. And the state of California has declared a drought, and the city of Los Angeles is asking us to reduce our water consumption. Read More…

Fall Planting Tips: 3 Flowering Herbs to Plant Now In Southern California Gardens

It is a lucky cook who is able to pluck a few fresh sprouts from a nearby herb plant to spice up a dish on the stove.  Here are a few fabulous herbs that do well in drought tolerant gardens, and Fall is a perfect time to plant them, so get out there already! Here Read More…