Ferns, Yucca, Beautyberry, Snow Squarestem, and a Recipe

Ferns create a soft edge between the woods and the lawn.FernsI've always loved ferns in the landscape. It's just so relaxing not to have to worry about whether there will be nice flowers and that their color coordinates with others. With ferns, there are never any flowers, so I can just enjoy their...

Read More

Succulents and containers

It makes sense that succulents, agave, and cacti are popular in SF/East Bay gardens (and throughout Mediterranean climate zones, too!)  They sail through the dry summer months looking great, and most overwinter, too, in the mild temperatures along the coast.  (In contrast, my sedum bed in...

Read More

A SF sculpture garden

Succulents were a primary theme of Bay Area gardensAn entry plantingA second urban garden was right under the I-280 freeway, tucked below a steep rocky cliff in a still industrial area. It reminded me of a very dicey field site that I had in Hunter's Point (nearby) from decades ago!But magic had been...

Read More

A secret SF garden (Organic Mechanic)

Our first fling garden had a compelling entry --wow is what I thought.  Pulling up in front of a concrete-surrounded apartment building, walking down a long apartment hallway,and then pow!Amazing.  The gardeners here (Organic Mechanic) have been working on this area (transformed from back...

Read More

Rain, rain, and more rain

Here in Western North Carolina, it just keeps raining. We're already above the average for the year (and we're only halfway through!) It's raining heavily now (again) and we're well over 3 inches today already.rain from deckHere's a view out the back from the deck into the ravine forest from earlier...

Read More

Returning to a veritable tropical forest

After a long week away, visiting gardens during the Garden Bloggers Fling, and being on vacation in San Francisco, my overwhelming thought coming home to the mountains, was WOW!  It's been raining a lot.My vegetable beds are verdant -- geez, I harvested (and we ate) chard and leeks just before...

Read More

Hybrids, GMOs, Heirlooms, and Penney Farms

I will be participating in the "Attic Treasures Sale" to be held June 29 8am--11am in Kohler Park on Clark Avenue in Penney Farms. In addition to talking to me about sustainable and organic gardening, you can shop the vendor tables loaded with items, buy fresh fruits, vegetables, locally-made jams,...

Read More