Everything has its fads — even gardening. Pizza gardens with each “slice” growing a different pizza ingredient. Plant parenting, or treating garden plants like pets or children, complete with names, personalities, and even Instagram accounts. Moon...
Remember Earth Day? Yes, it’s still a thing. Rising public concern over pollution, smog, and environmental degradation fueled the first Earth Day in 1970. Sustainable gardening may seem like an Earth Day sequel, but many traditional cultures have practiced it...
Balcony gardening dates back to Ancient Rome, where affluent citizens adorned their villas with hanging and potted plants on upper floors. The trend re-emerged during the Industrial Revolution as cities grew more congested, prompting residents to reclaim small outdoor...
People perspire. Plants transpire. Transpiration is a plant’s cooling process, where it releases water vapor from stomata in its leaves. This natural evaporative cooling moderates plant temperatures and urban heat island effects, especially in densely built...
Is there a perfect fruit? It might be the dragon fruit, a Central American native that tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear or melon. White-fleshed varieties are milder and refreshing. Red and purple-fleshed varieties are sweeter, with occasional hints of...
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...
