Practical advice & moral support for the small-scale gardener
I regularly pass by a house in my neighborhood with the perfect salvia growing in the front yard. Likely a cultivar of salvia greggii, its blossoms are the creamy apricot hue I’m forever pining after. I’ve scoured nurseries and the internet for an identification, to no avail. I know it’s bad to covet thy neighbor. But…
If you have a south, west, or southwest-facing balcony, you know the afternoon sun struggle. While sun is generally a good thing, not all plants happily withstand the hot rays of the afternoon, especially in pots. But that doesn’t mean your balcony has to be desolate. There are plenty of plants that can take the…
Last week, I wanted to write a post about roses. But, finding myself defeated by work and life, something on my to-do list had to go. To be honest, roses are pretty intimidating and not the best topic to tackle if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. Experts devote their lives to becoming certified rosarians. An ancient flower laden with…
Mid-May is a great time to stand back and admire the progress our gardens have made since the start of spring, even if it hasn’t felt like spring. The month kicked off with a week of rain and highs in the 50s! On my balcony and around the region, many plants are behind schedule due…
Of the 6,000+ native plants of California, I have six growing on my balcony. I should have more, but too often I succumb to a selfish desire to transform my garden into an Italian villa. However, I am resolved to fill future open container space with native species, for the health and biodiversity of my…