The Real Dirt

It’s peak season for fruits and vegetables: peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, apricots, plums, berries … the list goes on and on. If you find yourself in the enviable position of having more fresh produce than you can possibly consume or give away, it’s time to start canning and preserving. You’ll be…

Many of us are successfully growing Meyer lemons, Bearss limes, Satsuma mandarins, and navel oranges. But have you heard of Nagami Kumquat (Fortunella margarita (Nagami)) Yuzu (Citrus junos), Finger Lime (Citrus australasica), Flying Dragon (Poncirus citrus trifoliata), or Buddha’s Hand (Citrus medica)? …

Many of us are aware that the Monarch butterfly population has been precipitously declining over the last several decades. The Western Monarchs (those west of the Rocky Mountains that migrate to overwinter on the California coast) have seen a steep drop in numbers. According to the Xerces Society, the…

At this time of year, many of us struggle not only with the heat, but with a dispiriting lack of color in our gardens. And, while it’s not a good time to put in new plants that will surely also struggle in the heat, it IS a good time to note spaces in your garden where you’d like to insert those cheery…

Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is an attractive green plant with small yellow flowers commonly seen growing prostrate along the side of the road. A native to Southern Europe, it’s also referred to as “goathead.” However, underneath its foliage lies danger: spiky seedpods with needle-point spikes. If…