Get Ready for the Cool Season During the hot days of September, it’s tough to imagine that the cool season is only a few weeks away! But starting in the second half of the month it’s time to plant cool season plants and get ready for one of the busiest planting months in southern California: October! Here’s […]
Spring Flowers
It’s a special time of year! Today I was fortunate to see my garden through the eyes of others. I’m often so absorbed by the never ending list of ‘what needs to be done’ in the garden, that I forget to really look at the beauty and enjoy. But for the last two days a […]
Holiday Gifts from the Garden: Bulbs
Amaryllis and Paperwhite (narcissus) Bulbs – The Gifts that Keep Giving Want to give a gift that brings joy and beauty weeks after it is given? Plant amaryllis or paperwhite bulbs in festive containers. The recipients will experience the wonder of bulbs as it first sends forth leaves, then a budding flower stalk, and […]
Last Month to Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs
Want to see an explosion of color in your garden this spring? Bulbs that bloom in late winter through spring are planted in southern California from October through mid December. So if you didn’t get them in before now, you have a couple weeks left. It’s worth the effort, as you can see in […]
Fall Bloomers!
This is the time of year when my garden is looking a little (or a lot!) tired from the heat of summer and the end of the life cycle for the summer annuals. So the last few years I’ve tried to add blooming plants that hit their peak in the fall! Best of all, these […]
Ranunculus!
Time to Plant Ranunculus! Sometimes I feel guilty for having a favorite flower, but if I had to pick one, it would be ranunculus! All of the fall planted bulbs are gorgeous: freesia, daffodils, Dutch iris, etc., but the ranunculus are amazing with their dozens of papery petals and brilliant colors. And like the other […]
Holiday Bulb Gifts
‘Amaryllis’ (actually South American Hippeastrum) Did you receive or purchase blooming potted ‘amaryllis’ or ‘paper whites’ this holiday season? These bulbs are very popular gifts over the holidays and have been ‘forced’ to bloom at this time of year. Most people I know treat them like cut flowers and toss them out once […]
Fall Planted Bulbs
Yellow ranunculus and white freesias with blue forget-me-nots Have you planted bulbs yet? If you want a foolproof, spectacular display of spring color, plant bulbs this fall! Dutch Iris Choose these varieties for flowers that will return year after year in Southern California:– Dutch iris– Freesia– Daffodils Ranunculus Others that are beautiful but usually need […]