Arbor Day is a national holiday that recognizes the importance of trees. 

Here is spring, and it feels great. 

As I researched information on planting bare-root fruit trees, the words of the County Fruit and Nut Crop Advisor came to mind. 

Penstemon (also called Beard Tongue) is the genus name for a beautiful and resilient North American native wildflower.

The variety of native plants in California makes them an excellent choice for a drought-tolerant garden.

February can feel like spring. Early wildflowers appear. 

All plants in a landscape perform a function.

California is the native home of many wild buckwheat species. 

Whether you bought a new home or are taking on chores for a relative, suddenly you are expected to tend intimidating rose bushes. 

With this cold winter weather, one has a hard time wanting to go outside and dig in the garden, but that is exactly what we should be doing. 

January is the month of rain, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, fog, and wind. 

After I began my first training class in Master Gardening, I became fired up about home gardening and decided to plant a small home fruit tree orchard. 

Shrubs are important additions to every landscape. 

All I want for Christmas this year is rain, more rain, healthy soil, and a biodiverse garden!

December is the coldest month of the year in our area, but there are a few activities that will get you out in the garden this month. 

If you are going to have only one bulb in your garden, daffodils are the world's most popular choice.

Coral bells (Heuchera) are an excellent border plant and an old favorite of many gardeners.

When is a group of plants a hedgerow instead of just a planting bed?

Air and soil temperatures are dropping, signaling that fall is finally here! 

We've had a perfect start to autumn this year, and in November the season is in full gear. 

"It's not your mother's Brussels sprouts," I heard the UC Farm Advisor from Monterey County say.

Many of us have replaced turf (lawn) with low-water-use shrubs and perennials.

A week ago, it felt like fall would never arrive.

October is a busy month in the California garden. 

When I first moved to Porterville 30-something years ago, I remember driving around looking at different neighborhoods for a home. 

Benefits of incorporating native plants in landscapes include supporting local ecosystems and conserving water.

A landscaping opportunity arose 6 years ago with a garage addition. 

September is a month of transition and preparation for winter.

The daylily is a staple in the beds of Central Valley residents for its beauty, low maintenance, drought tolerance, and general freedom from pests and diseases. 

A friend gave me a copy of an article from the LA Times, Sunday, April 13, 2025, titled "Bountiful Veggies or Fragrant Native Plants?

 On the surface, not tilling the soil is counterintuitive to many traditional gardeners – until the science behind it is understood. 

Indoor plants are a beautiful and practical addition to any home or office, offering numerous benefits that go beyond their aesthetic appeal. 

You moved to a new home, and plants don't seem to grow, or your existing gardens are no longer lush and productive.

It was a beautiful, warm day, and I was working on my tomatoes.

My compost pile is teeming with red, wiggly worms.  

Love at first sight! 

It seems to be mosquito season, and while these pests don't directly affect our garden plants, they do affect our gardens, and more importantly, our gardeners!