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...
Does life have you tied in knots? Try Zen. No, you don’t have to withdraw to a mountaintop retreat when you can build a Zen garden instead. A Zen garden won’t solve your troubles but can help you find peace in a hectic and demanding world. Cue the bamboo...
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...
