UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties

I grew up on the East Coast, so for me, spring means snowdrops followed by crocuses and then buttercups. When I moved to California, spring just wasn't the same.

This South African invader has charm. Its lemon-yellow flowers nodding over emerald leaves make a lush foreground to the gray-blues of the Pacific.

Blueberries are to be savored. The dark azure or pink (on new cultivars) skin is firm, and the flesh is a delicate membrane that is sometimes tart and sometimes sweet depending on the variety. Before the 1900s, people enjoyed these North American natives in the wild.

While sitting in my garden after a recent rain, I became deeply aware of its beauty, sounds, fragrances, and textures. I realized with a sudden clarity how the garden encompasses birth, growth, death, and regeneration.

Fire danger may be the new fact of life, but coast side gardeners can take specific actions to keep their homes fire resistant and protected.