Anawalt Gardening & Tool Tips
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Every garden contains a tomato plant or two, it seems, and many more if you’re a true tomato aficionado willing to venture beyond the standard Beefsteak or Roma.
But did you know tomato plants fare much better with the right company? You see, plants need friends, too!
A dark backyard with deep shadows can feel more menacing than inviting.
But an accent light here and there, a beam to highlight, and a string of fairy lights or two may be all you need to transform your gloomy nighttime garden into a welcoming wonderland.
Blueberries are a cool weather crop. So perish the thought of cultivating them in your Southern California backyard, right?
Wrong, because in California’s favorable soil and (mostly) temperate conditions, it’s possible to grow almost anything.
Basil made its way to Southern Europe around 2,000 years ago, primarily through trade routes from the East.
The herb thrived in the region’s warm, sunny climate and quickly gained popularity in Mediterranean cuisine.
European settlers introduced basil to America during the age of exploration and colonization.
Green beans are native to Central and South America. 16th-century Spanish and Portuguese explorers introduced them to Europe, where they quickly became a staple food.
Today, they feature prominently in stir-fries, salads, casseroles, and other favorite dishes worldwide. It’s hard to imagine Thanksgiving without a green bean dish or two.
Steel doors need special handling when it comes to paint, that is, if you want the paint to last.
Whether painting a new steel door or giving an old one a fresh coat, there’s a strict process to achieve a smooth finish and professional-looking results.
Tomatoes picked at peak ripeness are more nutritious, juicier, sweeter, and have better texture and flavor. It’s tempting to eat them unprepared, like a peach.
So why aren’t we all growing our own tomatoes at home? For many people, the answer is space. But what if you could grow tomatoes in some of the smallest porches and kitchen areas?
Cauliflower was first cultivated in the Mediterranean region around the 6th century BC, where it was valued for its flavor and versatility in cuisine.
The French adopted it in the 16th century and called it “chou-fleur,” meaning “cabbage flower.”
It was introduced to England in the early 17th century, where it became a favorite vegetable in high society.
Fossil evidence traces the magnolia tree to over 95 million years ago, predating the evolution of bees. It grew naturally in North America, Central America, Asia, and the West Indies.
The Aztecs used magnolia bark and flowers to treat various ailments, ranging from respiratory problems to anxiety. They flavored their chocolate drinks with magnolia essence.
A low-maintenance landscape features a simpler layout with fewer plants that thrive with minimal care. It reduces the time and effort of upkeep without sacrificing aesthetics.
A well-designed low-maintenance landscape can survive periods of neglect and give you the pleasure of a beautiful yard without demanding constant watering, weeding, and other tedious work.
Picking a paint color can be an overwhelming task. . . even for a designer. What seems like a simple process is actually a lot more complicated.
Through years of trial and error, we’ve created a foolproof process when it comes to picking paint colors.
The ancient Persians revered the pomegranate, which represented fertility and abundance. In Greek mythology, the pomegranate symbolized prosperity and eternal life.
The trees thrive in Southern California’s warm climate. With proper care, they’ll produce showy blossoms every spring and a bountiful harvest of ruby-red fruit in the fall.
Zinnias originated in Mexico, but their name derives from an 18th-century German botanist, Johann Gottfried Zinn.
They grow rapidly and reliably from seed or transplants and need little care (almost like weeds!). They flourish in containers, attract pollinator insects, and stand out in cut flower arrangements.
Dracaena is a genus of flowering plants with more than 170 species, including some too big to be grown indoors.
The plants trace back to Africa, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia, regions with warm climates and diverse ecosystems.
Dracaena ranges from small, bushy varieties to tall, tree-like specimens.
Avocados are delicious and nutritious.They’re also remarkably easy to grow in Southern California yards.
The plant hails from Mexico, which also gave us the poinsettia and the zinnia. Persea americana dates back thousands of years and was first cultivated by the Mesoamerican tribes around 5000 BCE.
