Book review: The Colorful Dry Garden by Maureen Gilmer
For those of us gardening in the western U.S., water—or rather the lack of it—is always on our minds. The 2011-2017 drought in California was a…
Author: uniquesucculents
Steel and succulents: a perfect match
A few weeks ago I posted the photo on the left below as a teaser of things to come. Now it’s time for the reveal.…
Three Palms Nursery: a horticultural treasure in my own backyard
Whenever I visit a city where independent nurseries still thrive, I can’t help but wish for a more active gardening and nursery community where I…
Aloes and friends blooming in our garden
After two weeks of warm spring weather—highs in 60s and low 70s, today 75°F—we have quite a few blooms in the front yard. Aloes that…
I discovered a great nursery—and it's a Home Depot!
I don’t do a lot of plant shopping at big-box garden centers although occasionally they’re good for a surprise. More often than not, though, their…
Ruth Bancroft Garden: aloe there!
While the Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG) in Walnut Creek, CA is a great place to visit at any time of year, it’s particularly beautiful right now.…
Oh Home Depot…
I don’t want to get into the habit of ragging on the big-box garden centers all the time because I do buy plants there every…
Ruth Bancroft Garden: everything but the kitchen sink
Last Saturday the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek opened early for a 7:30 am sunrise photography session. This was not a traditional workshop; instead,…
Heavy-duty plant-shopping → trunk full of plants
On Saturday, I made the 50-minute drive to Walnut Creek to attend two morning events at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. The first was a 7:30…
South Coast Botanic Garden: new life on top of a landfill
You’ve never heard of the South Coast Botanic Garden? I don’t think it would have been on my radar either if it hadn’t been for…