The update on “The Rockery” — a redesigned entrance garden featuring a rustic dry-stacked stone wall made from a repurposed concrete sidewalk. We chose plant selections for shade and deer resistance. Bask a bit in the healing power of nature amidst challenging times.
Category Archives: Gardening
Finding Peace in the Garden During Dark Days
To immerse myself in the healing garden, I’ve started a new project–reviving a neglected front garden, using repurposed cement “stones” from an old sidewalk to build a rockery and creating a more welcoming entry. I’m also connecting with fellow gardeners around the world as we share six garden elements, including daffodils and rosemary.
Scented Garden Plants for Mediterranean, Summer-dry Climate Zones
Take a calming moment to envelop yourself in the scented garden. Get recommendations for aromatic plants that do well in summer-dry, Mediterranean climate zones. Cleveland sage and rockroses for example. Learn which aromatic, drought tolerant plants have done well in our Sonoma County, California garden over the years. American garden blogs
Hot Gardeners (the literal kind) and Hoof Prints In the Veg Patch—a summer update
Be safe while gardening in the heat! Heat illness can be serious, so please take steps to prevent danger to your health while working in the garden or outdoors. Plus, an update from the organic garden in summer and the inter-planted vegetable beds–with deer netting! California garden blogs
Grow Shade for Heatwaves–a review of the hardiest trees in our garden
Shade trees are a great relief during a heatwave. Plant a shade tree to cool the air around your house or city. Learn the benefits of trees to you, your community and the environment. Plus, which trees are the hardiest in my Sonoma County, California garden. They support wildlife, help stop climate change, relieve stress, and recharge groundwater. American gardening bloggers | Edible gardens.
A Palette of Spring Colors
It’s a odd dance, doing garden blogs–the season when you have the most to share is exactly when you have the least time to share it. Let me try, TRY, to do a short flit through the spring blossoms, joining in this time with the Six-On-Saturday gardeners from around the world, who post six thingsContinue reading “A Palette of Spring Colors”
Why Going Peat-free In the Garden Is So Important
Gardeners—did you know that the peat moss we are using in our soil amendments comes from peatlands which, when undisturbed, store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests?! Join the peat-free garden movement and help preserve the unique, diverse, and important carbon-storing peatlands around the world.
‘Tis the Season for The Olive Harvest, Persimmons and Winter Warmth Without Fossil Fuel
In our garden here in Sonoma County, California, the holiday season also marks festive activities like harvesting the olives for milling into oil, picking persimmons and feijoas and admiring the fall color of the parrotia persica. Winter pruning, wildflower seed scattering, tree planting, and a reflection on going carbon neutral are on the winter garden tasks list.
The Heat Is On–in the garden and on the planet
Today is a toasty 92°F (33°C) but that is normal for this time of year for us. We’ve actually had an unusually cool summer so far and our tomatoes and zucchini are only just starting to ripen. I’m grateful that our area has been spared the intense heatwaves so many areas of the world haveContinue reading “The Heat Is On–in the garden and on the planet”
The Frogs are Happy, Dormant Pruning Is Done, Bareroot Is Planted, Fungi Is Fruiting and Seedlings Are Started–Whew
I’ve lost track of how many atmospheric rivers have come through California so far this rainy season, so I just looked it up. The answer is fourteen! (KGET) Not that I noticed when one ended and the next began. I’m not complaining. I’m delighted to see that Lake Sonoma is full again, as is ourContinue reading “The Frogs are Happy, Dormant Pruning Is Done, Bareroot Is Planted, Fungi Is Fruiting and Seedlings Are Started–Whew”