Solano

We live near a fast food restaurant that doesn't have much landscaping, mostly white rocks and few scrubby plants. But it also has six compact, deciduous, spring-flowering magnolia trees planted in two groups of three that are quite charming.

My mother bought me the cutest pink flowering plant in a little 2-inch bunny planter for Easter. She told me that she thought it was the prettiest Kalanchoe that she had ever seen. It was adorable, and just bursting with flowers. I was a little puzzled though.

Starting from seed can open the door to more variety, but it helps to keep notes. 1) Don't start too early! Holding seedlings under poor conditions while waiting for ideal weather results in weak, spindly plants.

Gomphrena is a super fun addition to the garden. It is in the Amaranthaceae family and is commonly know as globe amaranth. It comes in pink, purple, orange, red and white. It is native to Central and South America.

When I first married into my husband's family, I was new to the Capsicum chinense family, but I thought I knew to what Scotch Bonnet was. A Yank, in a family ofyardies. For years I would buy Scotch Bonnet plants, and for years, brother-in-law would say no.

When I first started growing vegetables at home, potatoes seemed like they would be impossible or gross. I didn't like the idea of digging them up and having to wash them endlessly before cooking them. I don't usually peel potatoes I buy from the store, so washing would be extra work.

Karen Norton, my neighbor and friend, passed away peacefully at midnight after a brief illness. It seemed fitting to her master gardener friends that today is National Gardeners' Day. Karen was a very nice neighbor, veteran master gardener, and accomplished ceramist and art teacher.

A few months ago, I decided to try out an idea I've had for a while, creating a closed terrarium.

Spring blossoms full of color Super blooms beginning their show Spring fever, allergies and plant rebirth...

I recently received a gift from a friend, a lovely brooch pin that is shaped like a lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) flower, with beautiful oval-shaped petals. My friend said that she chose the lotus brooch because of my love for yoga and nature.