Humans and hollyhocks go way back. Archaeologists have discovered hollyhock pollen in Neanderthal burial sites in Iraq, suggesting it had spiritual or medicinal importance as early as 50,000 years ago. Sumerian clay tablets mention plants with large, showy blooms,...
Balcony gardening dates back to Ancient Rome, where affluent citizens adorned their villas with hanging and potted plants on upper floors. The trend re-emerged during the Industrial Revolution as cities grew more congested, prompting residents to reclaim small outdoor...
Is there a perfect fruit? It might be the dragon fruit, a Central American native that tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear or melon. White-fleshed varieties are milder and refreshing. Red and purple-fleshed varieties are sweeter, with occasional hints of...
“Pansy” comes from the French pensée, meaning “thought.” In Victorian floriography, pansies symbolized loving remembrance. Their distinctive “faces” are guides for pollinators like bees, directing insects to the center of the flower...
The 12 Days of Christmas features 12 repeats of “partridge in a pear tree.” Partridges and pear trees were popular in 18th-century England. But did you know that in California, we have both? Pear trees (Pyrus communis) are native to Europe and parts of...
