A commercial tomato is harvested 20 to 30 days before peak ripeness. It’s sent to a distribution center, sorted, and shipped to the store after a few days. It sits in the store for who knows how long before being purchased. Even then, it may need a few more days...
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...
The Aztecs gave us words like “chocolate,” “tomato,” and “avocado.” They developed chinampas, or floating gardens, to feed their large population. And they were the first to cultivate zinnias, a flower they called...
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...
