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....
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...
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...
To the ancient Persians, the pomegranate represented fertility and abundance. In Greek mythology, the pomegranate symbolized prosperity and eternal life. The fruit is a powerhouse of health benefits — rich in antioxidants like punicalagin and anthocyanins, which...
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...
