Container Magic – Helpful How-to Tips on Planting Your Garden in a Container Container gardening is a fun and easy way to beautify a yard or small garden space. Containers are perfect for most environments and people of all gardening levels. They are portable and offer endless possibilities. Choose…
The calendula is a beautiful and hardworking flower in the home garden. It thrives in cool weather, making it a perfect addition to the North Coast. It is in the Asteraceae family and is native to the Mediterranean region. For home gardeners seeking a plant that is easy to grow, looks beautiful in…
By this time of year the lush growth and colorful flowers of spring are just a memory. Many California native plants go dormant in the summer, waiting for the fall and winter rains before they grow again. Some plants, like California buckeye, are already losing their leaves. But luckily for the native garden…
The Bay Area is a rich climate for having color all year from perennials. We highlight a few of our favorites if you're looking to enjoy bountiful color in your garden.
On our hot summer days, shady garden areas can offer welcome respite from the heat. One of the challenges of gardening in shade, though, is adding interest through color, because it can be difficult to find plants that bloom in shade. Incorporating native plants in your garden can greatly increase the…
Stephen Reid credits the UC Master Gardener program for preparing him for his role as assistant curator for the rose portion of the famous botanic garden in Pasadena.
Visitors to the Lake Merritt Trial Gardens are invited to take a self-guided tour to find inspiration and see practical applications for growing plants and vegetables in our local, marine-influenced climate.
In 2007, the United States Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating a week in June as "National Pollinator Week" (this year it is June 23-29, 2025). In response to the alarm raised by an annual increase in commercial honey bee deaths in the US, the government and researchers began addressing the…
A true treasure of the Americas, hummingbirds are a diverse family of more than 340 species, only 17 of which are found north of Mexico. They are also keystone mutualists, nectar feeders that have coevolved with the indigenous plants they pollinate.