We try to create and nurture wildlife habitat gardens here on our five-acre Sonoma County property. And the California pipevine swallowtail is one of our favorite local fauna to provide support for. Their markings are so striking–with their mystical black color and iridescent blue sheen (on the males). The caterpillars are also eye-catching: black withContinue reading “Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies”
Author Archives: lisatheardentgardener
Protecting Shrubs and Trees from Gophers
Gophers In Your Garden When I think of gophers, in my mind’s eye I see the flyer for JAWS, only instead of the shark there is a Monster Gopher coming up from the soil depths (with ominous music) to ravage a poor tree. My oft-mentioned gopher casualty is in the photo to the right: aContinue reading “Protecting Shrubs and Trees from Gophers”
Burgeoning Spring
Happy Spring! It’s officially Spring and there is so much happening in the garden that there is little time to write about it. The plum and nectarine blossoms of last month are doing a slow fade-out and I almost don’t notice because perky young leaves are taking over the show. While carting around plants orContinue reading “Burgeoning Spring”
Asparagus and Oyster Mushroom Harvest
The asparagus is starting to pop up! And not a minute too soon, as the winter broccoli is starting to flower and frankly, I was getting tired of eating it. This is nice timing with some King Oyster mushrooms just now fruiting. They are being grown from a kit by Field & Forest Products —Continue reading “Asparagus and Oyster Mushroom Harvest”
When to Prune Garden Fruit trees, Flowering Shrubs and Perennials
After my last post, Time for a Tidy in the Spring Garden and Plant Nursery, there were a couple of questions about when to prune different plants in the garden, so I thought I would mull that over with you a little. It’s a big topic so we probably need to sit down in ourContinue reading “When to Prune Garden Fruit trees, Flowering Shrubs and Perennials”
Time for a Tidy in the Spring Garden and Plant Nursery
It’s early spring in Sonoma County and time for a garden tidy of any of last years overgrowth, perennials, and remaining dormant pruning. Best time to plant out any shrubs or trees from your propagated nursery stock. Also a few favorite flower blooms from gardening blog of the-compulsive-gardener.com
Let’s Have a Walk Through the Early Spring Garden!
Take a walk through the early spring garden of the-compulsive-gardener.com in Sonoma County. Early blooming flowers of daffodils, flowering quince and currants, rosemary, grape hyacinth, cerinthe. See how the overwintering vegetables are coming along: leeks, onions, beets, garlic. Hope you enjoy the virtual garden tour!
Make a weather-resistant garden sanctuary for sitting in the garden year-round
Create a garden sanctuary with a portable greenhouse pod — great for gardening breaks or outdoor meditation space year-round. Gardening blog from Sonoma County, CA. the-compulsive-gardener.com
Happy Valentine’s Day!
An heirloom rose bouquet for Valentine’s Day. Wishing you a peaceful and love-filled day and year!
Escape the pandemic in a virtual tour of the back-roads of Sonoma County, California
Escape lockdown for a moment, into the refuge of a virtual tour of Sonoma County, California back-roads. Can you smell the wet moss and bay leaves? Enjoy the pastoral scenes of West County farms and redwood lined roads, of vineyards and sheep, apple orchards and some local favorites.