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...
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...
Gardening in Southern California is a year-round activity, thanks to mild winters, hot summers, and varied microclimates. However, in some areas, the soil may work against you. The Los Angeles Basin features soils like the Chino Association, a gray, calcareous silt...
Do you take your home brewing seriously? REALLY seriously? Then why buy your hops in a bag when you can pick them fresh off the vine? The hop plant (Humulus lupulus) is a climbing vine that can reach up to 20 feet tall in a single growing season. Its cone-like flowers...
