LA’s dry and sometimes unforgiving soil can make even simple yard projects challenging. You may find therapy in gardening, but do you want to work harder than you need to? In SoCal’s mild climate with year-round plant growth, the upkeep never ceases, even...
It’s another cold, wet, and windy Saturday. You’re cooped up inside, lamenting the gloomy weather from the comfort of your Snuggie. What should you do? Binge watch Netflix? You already did that yesterday while you were “telecommuting.” Clean...
Imagine going 20 years without a haircut or grooming session. Now imagine you’re a Palo Verde tree. Same thing, different species. Unpruned Palo Verde is a tangled mess of brambles and branches, sometimes with no discernible tree form. But trimmed into shape,...
Tequila anyone? Agave holds an honored place in Mexican culture, and not just for the alcohol distilled from its juice. Agave fibers are used to create sturdy ropes, mats, and other textiles. Agave nectar is a natural sweetener, and roasted agave hearts are a...
The record low temperature in downtown Los Angeles is 28°F (-2°C), set on three occasions. Outlying areas like the San Fernando Valley have seen even colder temperatures — dropping to 18°F (-7.8°C) in 1989. While this may not raise eyebrows in Duluth, Minnesota,...
What kind of banana plant bears flowers but no fruit? A bird of paradise, of course. Yes, that exotic-looking plant in your neighbor’s yard is actually a banana expatriate from South Africa, a country known for bizarrely beautiful flora and large carnivorous...
