Garden

This watermelon trial was conducted in the summer of 2006 at our (no longer in use) Nine Palms project location. Seventeen varieties of watermelons were grown to compare taste and production.

Chia, Salvia hispanica, is a member of the mint family and is native to Mexico and Central America. Chia is grown primarily for the small mottle-colored seeds which are used as a food source. There is another plant grown for seeds, Salvia columbariae, that is commonly known as golden chia, desert chia, or…

Three popular varieties of sorrel are garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa), French sorrel (R. scutatus), and red veined sorrel (R. sanguineus). French sorrel is the preferred variety for culinary use. It grows throughout Europe, in almost all soils and situations. The arrow shaped leaves have a bright, lemony…

One type of graywater system recycles water from your washer for landscape use. Credit: Pasadena Water and Power Graywater is untreated wastewater from bathroom tubs, sinks, showers, and washing machines.

Getting plants off to a good start begins with planting. While its a simple enough concept dig a hole, cover the plants roots with soil, water, and watch it grow theres actually a bit more to it. The process varies slightly if youre planting bulbs, succulents, or trees and shrubs.

Gary Barnes, Pexels Propagation through cuttings is the process of using a piece of an existing plant and encouraging it to grow into a new plant. Stems, leaves, and roots can all be used for cuttings. This is a good method for woody and herbaceous plants.

This informal rain garden incorporates plants and wildflowers alongside a permeable walkway. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Rain gardens are designed to collect water and beautify a garden. They allow water to sink into the ground in about 48 hours rather than sloshing down storm drains.

There are so many ways to minimize waste, send less to landfill, save time and money.

Pick up dropped camellias to avoid petal blight. Photo: Annie Spratt, unsplash Maintenance and prevention Inspect irrigation system for leaks and non-functioning emitters and sprayers. Run the system for a few minutes, paying close attention to which emitters are not working.

Photo: Daria Rem, Pexels If you revel in the array of tones and textures in our garden, you can bring that feeling indoors with a few well-placed houseplants. Houseplants create a sense of colorful coziness, along with the added bonus of purifying the air you breathe.