I've gone to the dogs…
…literally. Samoyeds Boris and Natasha welcoming me to their garden paradise. Photo by Hoover Boo. If you follow Hoover Boo’s fabulous blog Piece of Eden,…
Author: uniquesucculents
Book review: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Growing Cacti & Succulents
When I first became interested in succulents, these were the kinds of books available: I’m sure you’re familiar with them. A fair amount of information,…
Cold-hardy sedums
We’re spending Christmas with my mother-in-law in the mountains of Northern California. When I walk around her 2-acre property, I often think of the kind…
Book review: Visionary Landscapes
Think of a Japanese garden you’ve visited. What attributes come to mind? For me, it’s tranquility, stillness, and self-reflection. You might say peace, meditation, a…
Brrrrr, 26°F predicted for tonight
At this time of year, one of my daily rituals is checking the weather, especially the night-time lows. I don’t worry too much as long…
Giving dudleyas another try—and tulips, too
Dudleyas are succulents with fleshy leaves hailing from southwestern North America. Many of the 45 species are native to coastal California where they happily cling…
Aloes on the UC Davis campus—mid-December progress report
In my last post, I reported on the flowering progress of my own aloes. This morning I checked on the aloes on the University of…
It's getting to be aloe time
As much as I dislike winter, it has one bright spot: It’s flowering time for many aloes. In our zone 9b climate the peak is…
Book review: Private Gardens of the Bay Area
I vividly remember getting a coffee table book about the Caribbean islands when I was a young adult. Looking at the glossy photos was like…
The Wave Garden in Point Richmond: one of my favorite spots in the Bay Area
The Wave Garden in Point Richmond may be one of the best kept secrets in the Bay Area. There seems to be some hesitation to share…