The Real Dirt

There is a lot of talk these days about the benefits of growing native plants in your garden. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil, so they need less water and fewer soil amendments. Native plants provide food and habitat for local insects and wildlife, help to sustain the local food web,…

It’s peak season for fruits and vegetables: peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, apricots, plums, berries … the list goes on and on. If you find yourself in the enviable position of having more fresh produce than you can possibly consume or give away, it’s time to start canning and preserving. You’ll be…

Many of us are successfully growing Meyer lemons, Bearss limes, Satsuma mandarins, and navel oranges. But have you heard of Nagami Kumquat (Fortunella margarita (Nagami)) Yuzu (Citrus junos), Finger Lime (Citrus australasica), Flying Dragon (Poncirus citrus trifoliata), or Buddha’s Hand (Citrus medica)? …

Many of us are aware that the Monarch butterfly population has been precipitously declining over the last several decades. The Western Monarchs (those west of the Rocky Mountains that migrate to overwinter on the California coast) have seen a steep drop in numbers. According to the Xerces Society, the…

At this time of year, many of us struggle not only with the heat, but with a dispiriting lack of color in our gardens. And, while it’s not a good time to put in new plants that will surely also struggle in the heat, it IS a good time to note spaces in your garden where you’d like to insert those cheery…