Garden

Borage, Borago officinalis, is native to the Mediterranean region. It is also known as starflower, bee bush, bee bread, and tailwort. It is typically grown for its bright blue star-shaped flowers. The flowers and leaves have a cucumber-like flavor, and can be used in salads or as dessert or beverage…

Rosemary (Savia rosmarinus, previously Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant, drought tolerant, evergreen perennial that is classified as a subshrub for the woody lower stems that develop over time.  Its many forms range from ground covers to tall shrubs.

A male Annas hummingbird can't resist Saliva clevelandii Pozo Blue, an easy CA native. This plant looks best with fall pruning. Photo: Bob Mauceli Native plants are easy to grow so long as you don't overdo it with soil amendments or other unnecessary additions.

Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) is a deer-resistant shrub that grows in sun or shade and has fragrant flowers. Photo: PlantMaster You can bring the natural beauty and ecology -- of your surroundings into your garden by growing some of the plants that were here before settlers arrived.

Growing a successful edible garden takes planning, correct timing, and a little know-how. But once you have it down it is such a pleasure to eat homegrown produce fresh from the garden. Here's what you need to get started.

Have you ever wondered why your neighbors tomatoes may be ready to pick while yours are still green? Or why you can grow citrus and they cannot? Across a single town or neighborhood there can be many microclimates. You might have various microclimates in your own yard.

Be part of a wildlife corridor between islands of natural habitat. Photo: Courtesy of UC Regents Habitat gardens provide connectivity Your garden can be a place for pollinators and insects to stop and refuel as they travel through urban, suburban, and wildland areas.

Fall is the perfect time to plant native plants, like this California fuchsia (Epilobium). Photo: Marie Narlock Maintenance and prevention Reduce irrigation times significantly as day length shortens and plant growth slows or stops.

When it comes to creating defensible space, the significance of proper plant and landscape maintenance cannot be overemphasized. Poorly maintained landscapes can easily become fire hazards regardless of which plants are grown.

Is your garden soil not quite what you want it to be? Need to make some improvements? Soil amendments may be a solution. Before making any additions or changes to your soil, its good to know what soil amendments are and how they may work in your soil.