I enjoy growing fruit trees and among the favorite novelties (and they taste good too!) are the apples with pink or red flesh! They can be made into PINK apple sauce. They are no more difficult to grow than an ordinary apple, but have the qonderful quality of amazing fruit [...]

Our native iris species (Iris douglasiana, I. tenax, I. innominata have yielded many wonderful showy plants. Almost all the colors of the rainbow as well as combinations can be had from these very easy care plants... and they are drought tolerant too! Evergreen grassy foliage is their year round appearance, [...]

All gardeners recognize the spring bulbs. Daffodils, narcissus, tulips, hyacinths, muscari, etc. There are others however, which provide additional interest. Babiana gives blues, purples and whites, species freesias give white-cream and fragrance, They like sun and good drainage and increase rapidly. Ixia, brodiaea/triteleia, sparaxis, species gladiolous offer other selections. They [...]

With the warm weather, even though the nights are cold, and there is a bit of frost, we are having an early spring show on the flowering trees this year. Prunus mume is the first, then comes Prunus 'Okame' a hybrid with glowing neon pink blooms in profusion, the early [...]

We have had a very warm Jan. and that has pushed the growth on many plants earlier than usual. As long as there is no hard frost, we will be seeing a very long growing/blooming season this year, even though it has become colder again. Some of the finest things [...]

With the recent warmth we have had, the gardening bug has bitten more than a few gardeners! Do remember to look at the calendar and realize it is still winter. However, you can begin to till your veggie beds and prepare to plant seeds either in the ground (if cool [...]

With the recent warmth we are experiencing, it feels just like spring, but remind yourself to look at the calendar. It is still very much winter and only January. However, you can get a jump on spring planting by sowing seeds indoors. Start preparing the seed containers and get soil [...]

Garrya elliptica (silktassel) and the heaths and heathers are other winter bloomers for the garden. The native silktassel bush is a great easy care subject for the garden. Any native plant/drought tolerant landscape as well as backround specimen or screening will suit these larger shrubs. Good drainage is essential, but [...]

To most gardeners, the idea of a winter blooming fruit tree is unknown. But to the knowledgeable landscape archtects, contractors, and well versed gardeners, the qualities of Prunus mume are well known and cherished for their winter blooms and wonderful fragrance. Here I will describe the merits of this little [...]

Most gardens are without colorful flowers at this time of year, but that does not have to be the case in your garden if you plant some of these suggestions. Camellias are a well known subject for the garden, but for the most part, people are only accustomed to a [...]