It’s a lily wannabee. The calla lily isn’t a true lily — it belongs to the Zantedeschia genus and is native to Southern Africa. Lilies, on the other hand, are members of the Lilium genus and indigenous to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere....
Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region. Its name comes from the Latin words ros (dew) and marinus (sea), meaning “dew of the sea.” Ancient Greeks and Romans considered rosemary a symbol of remembrance, love, and fidelity. In the kitchen, it’s...
Fuyu! We don’t mean to sound rude, but we’re talking about the persimmon tree. If you’re lucky enough to have one, you know what a delight the fruit can be in salads, sauces, and table displays. Sadly, persimmon trees have a notoriously short...
Imagine a dark woodland area at night. Would you be drawn to it? Would you linger? Probably not, unless you’re a vampire. Likewise, a dark backyard with deep shadows can feel more menacing than inviting. But an accent light here and there, a beam to highlight,...
You can grow almost anything in Southern California. The magnolia tree, which evokes images of the humid American South, flourishes in California’s much dryer climate, although with more TLC. A Brief History of the Magnolia Tree Fossil evidence traces the...
We all know a putterer when we see one. Putterers putter in the yard — digging, planting, pruning, and mowing. It’s a form of therapy. But when temperatures soar into the 90s, with humidity to match, yard work feels less like therapy than torment. Even putterers...
