“Pansy” comes from the French pensée, meaning “thought.” In Victorian floriography, pansies symbolized loving remembrance. Their distinctive “faces” are guides for pollinators like bees, directing insects to the center of the flower...
Today’s weather report? Another heat wave lasting a week. Welcome to the dog days of summer in SoCal. Extreme heat is hard on your plants, too. Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 95°F can cause leaf scorch, wilting, and sunburn in sensitive plants like...
California sees an average of 7,000 wildfires annually. Dry seasons, fierce winds, and hot summers create the perfect conditions for outbreaks. Homes located near forests, brush, or other flammable vegetation are at high risk. Mitigating wildfire danger starts with...
The 12 Days of Christmas features 12 repeats of “partridge in a pear tree.” Partridges and pear trees were popular in 18th-century England. But did you know that in California, we have both? Pear trees (Pyrus communis) are native to Europe and parts of...
Few flowers “talk” to gardeners. A snapdragon will. The name “snapdragon” derives from the flower’s resemblance to a dragon’s mouth, which opens and closes when you gently squeeze the sides. Scientifically known as Antirrhinum...
According to superstition, apricots are bad luck in the Marines. According to fact, they’re good luck in your Southern California garden. Marines may shun the apricot tree, but gardeners should welcome it. Some magnificent specimens grow to 30 feet and bear up...
