First, a point of clarification: peonies are NOT cute hooved animals that little girls love. They’re showy, cool-weather flowering plants that often struggle in Southern California gardens. Peonies are native to the chillier climes of Europe, America, and Asia....
Guavas are like gold at the supermarket, if your local market even carries them. They’re small, tasteless, and so costly, you may think you wandered into Harrods by mistake. Anyone who has sampled a ripe guava fresh off the tree will forever be on a quest for...
Tulips need a chilling period to bloom. Crocus and hyacinth likewise need cold stratification to flower. Some ornamental lilies may struggle in Southern California’s hot, dry summers. What’s an aspiring bulb flower gardener to do? You’ll be happy to...
Figs are among the earliest domesticated crops in human history, dating back 9,000 years in regions like modern-day Jordan and the Levant. The Egyptians dried figs for year-round consumption, while the Greeks and Romans associated the fruit with fertility and...
Choose your location wisely. Once planted, that olive tree will be there forever. Olive trees can live for hundreds and even thousands of years under the right conditions. Average lifespan: 300–600 years With care: Some trees live over 1,000 years Oldest known trees:...
Where would you rank your landscaping on a scale of 1-10? Pleasant but forgettable earns you a 5. Anything less, and well… now’s the time to don your DIY hat. There are countless ways to elevate your outdoor space affordably, from drought-tolerant plants...