Fireworks over Los Angeles
Fireworks – A Toxic Tradition?
I was in town for the 4th of July this year. Usually I'm celebrating our freedom by backpacking at around 9,000 feet in the pristine silence of the Sierras over…
Review & Giveaway: 101 Chilies to Try Before You Die
Are you a chili grower? Do you like your peppers hot? If that's true, then 101 Chilies to Try Before You Die by David Floyd is for you. Floyd is…
Slice shallots thin. Pieces should be evenly sized if possible.
Preserving Shallots
Shallots are a luxury. They're expensive and they don't store for long. So we grow them ourselves. But when it's time to harvest, that last part (about not storing for…
Blue Beauty tomato shows true blue. We just fed the tomatoes with compost tea.
Wordless Wednesday: Summer Gardening Never Stops
Summer Solstice is almost here. The garden still needs attention, and evidence of the rewards close at hand are everywhere. Time to feed, weed and guide your plants along into…
Droppings and munching are a clear sign you have tomato hornworms.
YouTube: How to Find Tomato Hornworms
You know it's summer when you see holes in your tomatoes. Tomato hornworms can ruin a perfectly good tomato plant (and experience). We're here to show you how to find…
Christy the Riveter models Rosie's Workwear professional overalls.
Review: Rosie’s Workwear
I first spotted Rosie's Workwear overalls at the Heirloom Expo several years ago. The company has a great concept: work overalls made for women in the spirit of Rosie the…
Cobweb Spiderwort is an unusual and macabre water-wise plant.
Field Trip: Dallas Arboretum
We traveled to Texas last week to help a friend sort out her landscape design for her new home. While there, we took in the sites including the Dallas Arboretum.…
The photo from which the book's title came. Read the book to find out where and when it was taken.
Review: From Cows to Concrete
An author must support her fellow wordsmiths, especially when a book takes 7 years to produce from concept to publication. Rachel Surls, of UC Cooperative Extensions' Master Gardener program, and…
Mittens the supercat protects the garden from vermin.
Wordless Wednesday: May Gardening
Keep planting until there's no more space! This Wordless Wednesday is brought to you by ambition and hope. Two great qualities to have when gardening in spring. It's time to…
The bees enjoyed the flowers of bolting kale and mustard greens.
Field Trip: Huntington Herb Garden
Spring is a beautiful time to visit botanical gardens, and Southern California does not disappoint. The Huntington Library and Gardens is off the charts in May with flora and fauna.…