Plumeria? Check. Jacaranda? Check check. These tropical trees thrive in Southern California’s Mediterranean climate. That said, some trees fare much better than others and reward the attentive LA gardener with spectacular spring and early summer flowers....
What’s the showiest flower of them all? It might be the dahlia, with its extravagant and intricate blossoms, extraordinary color variety, and long blooming season. Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America, where the Aztecs cultivated them for their...
Imagine a perfect garden where vibrant blooms are long-lasting, low-maintenance, and pest-resistant. In frost-free climates, annual flowering plants act like perennials, continuing to blossom for multiple seasons. You’ve just imagined a world of marigolds. These...
It’s a lily wannabee. The calla lily isn’t technically a true lily — it belongs to the Zantedeschia genus and is native to Southern Africa. Details, details. Known for its elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers, the calla lily symbolizes beauty and purity. Its...
The tulip hails from the cool mountain slopes of Kazakhstan. It was introduced to the Netherlands in the early 1600s and quickly became a wealth and social status symbol. Tulip Mania followed — the speculative buying and selling of tulip bulbs. As demand grew, so did...
Straw bales conjure up images of hay rides, old episodes of Hee Haw on YouTube, and livestock at feeding time. But did you know they’re increasingly popular in urban gardens? No garden plot required! They’re a perfect medium for veggies, herbs, flowers —...
