Yana Valachovic, a member of UC ANR's Fire Network with a specialty in community resilience and the built environment, visited the sites of the L.A. fires to look for examples where surviving homes withstood the ferocity of the fire and for signs of defensible space and home hardening in action.
Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) is a deer-resistant shrub that grows in sun or shade and has fragrant flowers. Photo: PlantMaster You can bring the natural beauty and ecology -- of your surroundings into your garden by growing some of the plants that were here before settlers arrived.
Coast live oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) like wet winters and dry summers. L. Stiles There are 20 oak trees native to California. These stately trees create iconic landscapes, live up to 400 years, and provide tremendous benefits. Oaks are good investments -- for homeowners and the environment.
The UCCE Tuolumne County Master Gardeners, in conjunction with Foothill Collaborative for Sustainability (FoCuS), presents the Annual Seed Share Event on Saturday, February 22 from 10:00am 3:00pm at Saint Matthews Lutheran Church, 13880 Joshua Way, Sonora CA. It all starts with the seeds.
It's easy to invite bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other welcomed winged visitors into the garden. Just provide the food, water, and shelter they need to feel at home. This is called habitat gardening, and it's a satisfying way to choose plants.
Pittosporum tobira, mock orange. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Shrubs are extremely versatile and hard-working, often forming the framework of a landscape. Some are low-growing and others are as tall and large as trees. They make excellent privacy hedges, foundations, and evergreen backdrops.
Today there are more choices than ever when it comes to lawn and lawn alternatives. If you like the look and feel of a conventional lawn, there are even some lower-water choices available.
You don't need a green thumb to grow rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora). PlantMaster If you've been unsuccessful at gardening, take heart. There could be many reasons for that, starting with the condition of your soil or other cultural factors in your garden.
The garden is open to the public Tuesdays 9:30 to 11:30 am* Third Saturday of the month, May through October, 10:00 am to Noon* *The garden will not be open on days of rain, smoke, or extreme temperatures.
Most plants are a pleasure to grow. Fortunately, there are only a few to avoid. Here's how invasive plants and plants that have been treated cause problems. Scotch broom currently infests millions of acres throughout California.
