Yes, it’s now!  Fall is absolutely the best time of year to plant most trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennials here in the Bay Area.  There are vegetables and herbs that grow well in fall, too, especially greens, cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) and root vegetables. 

Brighten your winter garden with Ornamental Kales and Cabbages.  Their showy rosettes of foliage in shades of purple, blue, cream, green and rose resemble large flower blossoms.  They are cool season biennials, typically grown as cool season annuals in Fall through early Spring. 

Both Dipladenia and Mandevilla are beloved for their brilliant, showy trumpet shaped flowers in shades of red, coral, pink, yellow and white.  These evergreen, tender, tropical plants flower profusely in summer to late fall/early winter in the Bay Area and attract hummingbirds and bees.  They look alike – so what are the differences between them?

Showy, golden feathery, flattened bracts, hiding small whitish flowers at the base, bloom from fall through late winter.  Evergreen dense shrub with upright woody branching grows 5-6 ft with an equal spread.  A mass of upright growing, feather duster-like stems bear slender horizontal leaves…

Add movement, sound and dimension to your garden with Lomandra, an elegant, evergreen, arching, ornamental grass-like plant.  It is beautiful as an accent, in a swath, border or container.   

The spectacular, long lasting, 3” conical spikes of silvery feathery bottlebrush-shaped flowers tipped with neon pink bloom late spring through fall.  Sometimes known as Mulla Mulla. It is heat and drought tolerant and ideal for rock, Mediterranean, desert gardens, drifts as well as outstanding in mixed containers and it attracts bees and butterflies. What more could you ask for?

Spectacular, elongated conical flower clusters begin blooming in July in lime, red, or pink and can last well into Fall.  Depending upon the variety, the blooms can change color over the season – some from white to green to a dusty pink as they mature.  They are prized in both cut flower as well in dried arrangements.  

Typically Hydrangea p. grows…

Selecting an appropriate pot for an outdoor plant can be perplexing.  We find many people underestimate the size of container they need and are inclined to select a pot that looks good with the plant at its current size. Here are some pointers on what to consider when selecting your pottery.

Mycorrhizae are a collection of many species of beneficial soil fungi that help nourish a host plant.  The fungi produce very fine threads (hyphae) that attach to the plant’s roots and serve as an extension of the plant’s root system. This enlarged root system permits the plant to penetrate deeper into the soil to obtain additional moisture and nutrients.  Healthy soils are rich in mycorrhizal species and essential for a water efficient landscape. Read More…

Adding Cuphea to your garden helps create a hummingbird haven and provides a non-stop color show from spring until frost. Producing an abundance of tubular blossoms in orange, neon pink, purple, red, white, yellow and bi-color combinations, Cuphea brightens the garden while attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.   

Who doesn’t dream of a beautiful garden filled with flowers and butterflies fluttering around?  A butterfly garden is a sanctuary for butterflies to feed and thrive. However, it is easy to forget that butterflies come with the dreaded caterpillars…

Cercis canadensis, commonly called Eastern Redbud, are noted for their stunning, tiny rose-purple, red, magenta, pink or white pea-like flowers which bloom profusely in clusters of 4 – 8 on bare dark branches in early spring (March-April) before the foliage emerges.  Heart shaped, glossy leaves in bright green, purple, or multi-colored, depending upon the variety, stay attractive throughout the summer.

Give your plants a winning path to becoming vigorous, drought tolerant and resistant to insects and disease.   The first year is crucial to provide plants a strong start in life.

Let’s all do our part to help restore the Monarch Butterflies by planting Milkweed, the only food source for the caterpillars as they grow.  There are many species which the caterpillars feed upon.  Learn about the different varieties and the considerations in making the proper choice in this feature. 

Billowing clusters of smoke-like plumes top these beautiful shrubs of green, purple or chartreuse foliage. The brightly colored new foliage in spring, blooms through summer, fall foliage colors of yellow through orange, and the architectural branching structure visible in winter all combine to bring seasonal interest throughout the year. They make a striking statement as a specimen or accent focus in your garden.