In early spring, it’s safe to say I’m in a state of ‘euphorbia euphoria.’ Clusters of otherworldly chartreuse flowers hover above many other perennials just emerging from winter, bringing much-needed color and nectar for hungry pollinators. But their flowers are just one of the many reasons they’re a staple in my zone-9 garden. They’re also […]
I love designing a window box for all four seasons. Not only because window boxes provide yet another opportunity to plant, but because they’re a fantastic way to add vertical interest in the garden. When standing in line at the grocery store, I can easily pass by all the fashion magazines, except for articles like […]
While spending the day at the San Diego Botanic Garden, my favorite moment was walking around the corner and discovering I was in the middle of a party with life-sized Succulent People. Pat Hammer (who was also the Botanic Garden’s Director of Operations,) is the genius behind these incredible works of art. She even made […]
Fall is taking its sweet time showing up where I live in Granite Bay. As I currently write this, it’s late October and a way-too-hot 87 degrees outside, but my garden is loving it. Insects and hummingbirds are everywhere, buzzing from plant to plant, storing up as much energy as they can before cold weather […]
I’m excited to share my Top 15 favorite orange flowers with you because: 1) I absolutely love orange in my garden, and 2) In all the years I’ve been designing gardens, orange is hands-down the color that gets the most hate. Time and again, new clients repeatedly ask me to avoid using orange in their […]
Without a doubt, fall is my favorite season of the year. And making succulent pumpkins is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. Once I spot the first signs of pumpkins and squash adorning grocery stores (which happened this week, btw!) I’m like a kid in a candy shop. And […]
Annie Leonard, a proponent of sustainability, says ‘There is no such thing as ‘away.’ When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.’ This quote resonates deeply with me and is something I think about whenever it’s tempting to toss something that no longer has a purpose. I love repurposed items in the garden. Things […]
Gardening on steep slopes is problematic at best. Ever try and plant, prune, or deadhead on a steep hill? NOT fun. I should know. I’ve spent the past 2 years working in my new garden , trying to tame a pretty slope that has caused me to shed a tear or two in frustration. And […]
I’ve been home from my trip to New York for ten days now and have been excited to share with you some of the gardens I visited but life seems to have gotten in the way – for now, at least. On the last day of my trip, I received a phone call from Dan, […]
Let me introduce you to the dynamic brother/sister team, Lexi and Austin Petelski, who own General Pumice Products. These young and dynamic gardeners own two California pumice mines and have offered to explain the differences between pumice and perlite. Those of you who love to plant succulents will especially appreciate pumice, as it not only helps absorb […]
It’s taken me several days to write this, as I just can’t seem to grasp that a year has already passed since I posted my glass pumpkin photo with the accompanying news of my cancer diagnosis. Some days it feels like it was a lifetime ago, while other days it feels like only moments have […]
It’s no secret that this past year has been a whopper for me. During most of my chemotherapy treatments I was able to continue writing and public speaking, but it became increasingly more difficult as time went on. After my surgeries (6 total!) I needed to hibernate for awhile and take a break from everything […]
