Avocados are delicious and nutritious (said Captain Obvious). They’re also remarkably easy to grow in Southern California yards. The plant hails from Mexico, which also gave us the poinsettia and the zinnia. Persea americana dates back thousands of years and was...
Southern California’s mild climate offers the perfect environment for native and exotic blooms and, by extension, pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These tiny creatures facilitate plant reproduction and garden health. In return,...
Plumeria, also known as frangipani or temple tree, are tropical American shrubs or small trees with sweet, fragrant blooms. Despite their close association with Hawaii (aloha!), plumeria plants are native to the Caribbean Basin. They thrive in Southern...
One of gardening’s oldest techniques is also one of the cheapest and most effective. And it’s especially useful in dry climates like Southern California’s. We’re talking about mulching or covering the soil with a protective layer. What makes it...
Growing borage for companionship? We must be kidding, right? We’re dead serious. You may not appreciate the companionship, but your tomatoes and strawberries do. Among its many virtues, borage is a companion plant that repels garden pests and attracts native...
Hydrangea plants are Native Americans. They’re also Native Asians. They’re citizens of the world. The flowering plants were first cultivated in Japan, a country known for its gardening traditions and deep appreciation of nature. Hydrangea fossils date back...
