Newest addition to the family a variegated portulacaria succulent plant

Here’s my new baby, a variegated portulacaria, also called baby jade, or elephant food. Normally these succulent plants are lime green with brown stems.  This little cutie has has white edges with a little red here and there. I’m working on a new portulacaria succulent plant page for main website so I just HAD to Read More…

FloralFriday Hot Pink Silk Floss Trees Bring More Fall Color to LA

The silk floss trees are blooming in Los Angeles right now.   I’ve seen them blooming along the 101 Freeway, in front of office buildings and this one, which is blooming in front of a DWP station with a drought tolerant theme.   Chorisia speciosa trees are native to south America.  They grow up to 60 feet tall Read More…

Hopseed Bush Or Dodonaea Viscosa, Fast Growing Drought Tolerant Screen Plants for So. California

I have been profiling a number of drought tolerant, fast growing screen plants lately and Dodonaea belongs on the list too.  These lacy shrubs are also called Hop Bush or Hopseed Bush after their seed pods that resemble hops.  Hop Seed bushes come with leaves in either bright, lime green or dark purple.  Both versions 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…

Daffodil Flowers in Sparkling Waterford Crystal: Friday Floral

Yes, it is January, but I already have daffodils flowering in my garden.  I planted these bulbs years ago.  We’ve had a little rain here in southern California so they’ve taken that as their big chance to flower.  I know we’re still in the dead of winter, but they seem to have their own schedule.  Read More…

Brush Cherry; Drought Tolerant Screen Plant Profile

Brush Cherry, or Carolina Laurel is a pretty, dependable garden shrub that grows quickly into screens or hedges.  These shrubs can grow up to 30 feet tall and 10 – 12 feet wide.  I have seen mature stands of Carolina Laurel grow even taller. Carolina Laurel is versatile too, growing in full sun to part Read More…

Spring Flowers In Southern California

Warm weather is bringing flower blossoms and sprouting bulbs here in Los Angeles. Here are a few pretty baubles blessing my garden right now: Lavender is blooming all over. We’ve has a few bouts of rain lately and the lavender is putting on an extra fragrant show. This one is in my ‘back 40’; an Read More…

Blue Flowering Sage Herb Plants for #FloralFriday

The sage is blooming now, it is so pretty I just had to share it with you.This is regular culinary sage. I must say I am very impressed with how drought tolerant it is! It is growing with some lavender and artemis plants. Both plants are known to be drought tolerant bloomers, but I was Read More…