Garden And Landscape Design

Have you ever seen a walking stick insect, maybe in a museum display or at an entomology demonstration? They look just like twigs and are fascinating creatures. This makes them popular as pets in classrooms and homes. However, if pet walking sticks are accidentally or purposefully let out of their cages,…

Imagination gardens are a fun way to plant container gardens Almost all these tiny plants do best in indirect light and in moderate temperatures; in other words, indoors in the summer and winter. They may outgrow a small container but can be divided or pinched back to stay in scale. Do keep their feet…

Native and adapted Tahoe Friendly plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides and can include a diversity of options for your home landscape. They will however require irrigation while getting established the first year. It is a good idea to group plants by their sunlight and moisture requirements…

May is about the time home gardeners can think about planting trees, shrubs, and some perennials: the soil is generally warm enough for roots to get established, and what freezes we get can likely be handled by plants known to thrive in the Tahoe Basin.  Here are things to consider as you select trees,…

Scents of Spring Shrubs Ahhhh…Spring! Our California foothills spring flowering shrubs are not only stunning to look at but also provide alluring fragrances. In planning for the future, here are some of the most fragrant early blooming spring shrubs that you can add to your garden, which provide the…

If you are looking for an interesting evergreen that can serve as a hedge or small tree, why not consider planting one or more Feijoa? Commonly known as Pineapple Guava, Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana O. Berg.) is an evergreen subtropical shrub or small tree that produces an aromatic edible fruit with a somewhat…

Is there such a thing as a deer-proof plant? Perhaps…but there are a variety of reasons deer may choose to ignore or consume specific plant species at a particular time and place.  Certain plants native to California (and elsewhere) have evolved natural defenses against being eaten by browsing…