When my son was about 6 years old he used to pick green beans right off the vine and eat them in the garden. As a mom I was thrilled he was getting his organic vegetables fresh as a gardener I was happy to overlook the occasional damage caused by his harvesting technique. If you Read More…
Category: thegardenpages
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…
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…
Pink Blooming Aechmea Bromeliad Update
The flowers on my aechmea plant are finally opening. They are on stalks about a foot long coming out of the center of the plant. The flower is about 6 inches wide from tendril to spiky tendril. Aechmeas can be grown in Sunset Zones 22 -24, or (USDA Zone 10 or above or hardy Read More…
Astounding Amaryllis Flowers Blooming in So California August Heat
Amaryllis belladonna are fascinating flowers. They bloom straight out of the bare ground on tall stalks. Their flowers are large and dramatic, shaped like trumpets about four inches long. They smell wonderful and can perfume a room on a hot summer day. They bloom in late summer or early fall. The leaves are on a Read More…
You Say Aeonium I Say Echeveria Succulent Plant; It Is Blooming For #FloralFriday
Here is an update on the flowing succulents in my garden. My Complete Book of Cactus and Succulents volume is telling me this is an aeonium haworthii and even includes a photo. Most of the aeonium succulents I see have flat leaves and tend to look like a plate on the end of a stick. Read More…
Flowering Lavender Herb Plants in My Sunny, Dry Southern California Garden
Here is one of my favorite plants; lavender. I have two French lavender plants growing in my garden. Both have been flowering for months now and both have proven to be extremely drought tolerant and beautiful. Even lavender leaves are sticky with essential oils and perfume the air. I use the flowers and leaves for 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…
Eureka! California Black Gold In My Back Yard, Compost That Is
Yes, it does exist! I have found it! Compost can be made in California and here’s a giant chunk of that wonderful black gold in my hot little hand. I just dug some of my delicious compost out of the pile. I am getting ready to fill my bin up with a bunch of new Read More…
Pink Roses, Lavender And Yellow Acacia Flowers For #FloralFriday
I am luck, luck, lucky enough to have a few things blooming in my garden right now, so I’m sharing the floral joy to brighten up your Friday. And two of these flowers are from drought tolerant plants, so take heart my fellow desert dwellers. This is a pretty pink tea rose that grows tall Read More…