Scores of plants mentioned in ancient religious texts also thrive in San Diego’s climate, with its Mediterranean-like weather By Bob Frey and Francie Murphy (This article originally appeared in the April 12, 2025 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) The Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry summers and wet winters, is a distinctive climate zone found […]
Aromatic, colorful bushes grow easily in San Diego County region; here’s what to know about the 4 most common varieties By Lee Somerville (This article first appeared in the May 11, 2024 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) “Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly, lavender’s green, When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen.” […]
By Leah Taylor (All photos by Leah Taylor) (This article originally appeared in the January/February 2024 edition of California Garden) Planting a tree from the diverse genus Caesalpinia can can be a rewarding and environmentally friendly choice in any garden. This California native plant goes by many names depending on the species and geographic area […]
Sprawling oaks and sycamores aren’t suited for small urban lots, but several other native trees are good candidates. Some to consider for patio and street trees are the heat-loving desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) with its rosy-pink blooms; shiny-leaved Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp lyonii) with white flowers followed by red berries; western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) with deep […]
California native plants a waterwise option right under our noses BY LUCY WARREN (This article originally appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune September 9, 2023) As gardeners, we are drawn to the latest, brightest varieties of thirsty, exotic species for our gardens, always chasing the new and unusual. As our world heats up with climate change, […]
