I wrote earlier about a little patch of Nuttall’s milkvetch (Astragalus nuttallii), a new California native groundcover I’m trying out. Last time, I was pretty enthusiastic. Now, after eight weeks with less than a quarter inch of natural rainfall, I’m… Read More »milkvetch update
A trip to the town of Santa Ysabel in the spring is for me like stepping into a time machine in a couple of different ways. In the first most obvious sense, this little town in the foothills of San… Read More »santa ysabel open space preserve
Have you ever made a mistake while using a camera and ended up liking the “bad” photo best? I had borrowed John’s digital point and shoot and had aimed the thing at one of the local native plants, a blooming… Read More »camera oops
From my desk at work it’s less than a fifteen minute stroll to this viewpoint, which has got to be one of the most famous places to stand in all of modern architecture. The view is of the central plaza… Read More »landscaping without plants
There are gardens zones that I consider to be mainly my spaces, and there are others that I consider John’s. The pond/shaded patio area is largely his garden playground, and he has a number of potted plants, including several different… Read More »first epipyllums of the season
Gardening Gone Wild is hosting a photo contest for the best image of native plants in a garden setting. Wander down to the links in the comments on their post to see all the excellent ways people use natives in… Read More »picture this photo contest
Along with the flowers, spring brings its share of insects. I could do without the ants that are now beginning to explore the interior of the house, but the sphinx moths that started to appear in huge numbers last week… Read More »sphinx moths
While I was visiting San Diego’s Earth Day celebrations on Sunday, I took a quick detour into Balboa Park’s Botanical Building. It dates back to the 1914-15 Panama Pacific Exposition, and lays claim to being one of the largest lath… Read More »botanical side trip
Yesterday was the big city Earth Day fair here in town at Balboa Park. Buoyed by temperatures in the 80s, tens of thousands of people came out to celebrate. Getting to the park required some form of travel, which for… Read More »earth day fair
Earth Day is coming up on Wednesday. What environment-friendly changes will you be trying to make? Last year we installed a tankless water heater, a move that has saved us at least 30% on our gas bill. But it still… Read More »from shower to flower