Newspaper Articles

The aroma of plants can be uplifting. Our gardens are oftentimes a calming and serene presence in the midst of our busy world. As a further enhancement, consider adding another note by adding some fragrant plants to soothe your senses. For instance, a handful of crushed Grosso Lavender can provide…

Lavender is a delightful and useful garden plant. It can be used as a drought-tolerant low hedge, a specimen plant, a cut flower, and an herb that provides a fragrant addition to any garden. As garden ornamentals, lavenders have attractive gray-green foliage and eye-catching, long-lasting blooms.  …

July is historically our hottest and driest month. Keep things easy on both you and the garden. Work in the mornings, stay hydrated, and ease off the pruning and fertilizing. July is a great month to plan for autumn and do whatever preparation you can for creating a more water-efficient, California-style…

We all enjoy having beautiful plants indoors and outdoors, but with our busy schedules, plants can be the last things on our minds. We buy them, forget to water them, and then replace them when they die, or we may give up growing plants completely. Sound familiar? Then, succulents and cacti might be the…

Every summer, I take great joy in growing six beautiful tomato plants and sharing the fruit with my neighbors. I usually grow Big Boy, Better Boy, Beefsteak, and a couple of smaller varieties. In my estimation, there is nothing better on a summer day than a sandwich with tomatoes freshly ripened from my…

Although far from being handicapped, some of us do fall into the ranks of being considered a "Senior Citizen." When deciding that we want to garden for as long as physically possible, we can plan an outdoor space accordingly. Here are some suggestions, if you are thinking of making life in the garden easier…

Have you ever noticed or wondered about the small trees with dark magenta blossoms found in home yards, along streets, and in our foothills in March through April? You are seeing the Western Redbud tree. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 23 feet tall. The showy flowers, described as similar…

Are we ready for summer? We've had roller coaster spring weather, which is typical for this part of California. Also typical is a dry, hot summer with very little or no precipitation. We may still get rain this month, especially over the mountains, but in June, we generally start limiting our outdoor work…

Many residents in Tulare and Kings Counties live in the countryside on the valley floor or in the foothills. These areas are more susceptible to wildfire damage than city residential zones. Because of drought and climate change, fire season is expected to start earlier and last longer throughout all of…

We have about 1600 native bee species in California, but the honeybee is not one of them. The European honeybee is an important part of agriculture, the beekeeping hobby, and home gardens. Honeybees are easy to hold captive and move around, and the species produces honey, but it is not the most efficient…