GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: The French Lifestyle
Francesca Filanc
December 4, 2025
December 2025 As I was driving down the country lane on the approach to my house this morning after having had a manicure and pedicure
Please feel free to read the blogs posted below:
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Past And Present In A Garden
Francesca Filanc
November 1, 2025
November 2025 Many of us live in our gardens. By that I mean, we spend a lot of time in our gardens. Working in them
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: A Jog Down Memory Lane
Francesca Filanc
October 6, 2025
October 2025 Autumn has a way of filling our gardens—and our memories—with richness and promise. As the days cool and the air turns crisp,
GARDEN SURROUNINGS: September Garden To-dos And More…
Francesca Filanc
September 11, 2025
September 2025 Summer is winding down and kids are going back to school or are already back in school. There are so many projects
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Nighttime Temperatures Determine When Flowers Bloom
Francesca Filanc
August 1, 2025
August 2025 Mama noticed a week and a half ago that there were absolutely no blooms on her Pink Melaleuca, Melaleuca nesophila, a plant that
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Borage, All Things Summer, Mom And Apple Pie!
Francesca Filanc
July 3, 2025
July 2025 Mama, Pat Welsh, was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, UK. Borage grew wild in her grandparents’ gardens, and in the countryside. Years ago,
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Inviting People To Enjoy The Garden
Francesca Filanc
June 2, 2025
June 2025 I have always remembered that expression with a “they”. I talked to my children about the spiritual significance of the statement when
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Growing Clover To Replenish The Soil
Francesca Filanc
May 7, 2025
May 2025 The gardeners planted clover seeds all over a hillside above the deep end of the pool in March this year. Clover makes a
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: April Showers Bring May Flowers
Francesca Filanc
April 7, 2025
April 2025 The beauty of having a lovely yard is entertaining in the garden. Despite the rain there have been several garden events this
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Live The Life You Envision
Francesca Filanc
March 3, 2025
March 2025 If you have a Mediterranean garden and lavender is growing in your beds, this is the time of year that those beautiful
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Spring Has Sprung In Our Gardens!
Francesca Filanc
April 11, 2024
April 2024 Being that we live in a Mediterranean climate, I seem to always write about wisteria for April because it is drought tolerant once
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Growing Lavender In Your Garden
Francesca Filanc
March 4, 2024
March 2024 Lavender is such a fun plant to grow in Southern California. It is perfect for our climate because lavender is a Mediterranean
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Living And Gardening In A Mediterranean Climate
Francesca Filanc
February 2, 2024
February 2024 We are lucky and unique that we live in a Mediterranean climate. There are only five Mediterranean climates in the world. Read Full
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: New Year, Fresh Start
Francesca Filanc
January 3, 2024
January 2024 Gosh, already it is January 2024! How time flies. The new year is a time for fresh starts, new beginnings, new possibilities, a
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Planting A Madrone
Francesca Filanc
December 5, 2023
December 2023 This autumn I had the outside of my house painted. One day I was working at my desk and happened to look up
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Enjoy The Process
Francesca Filanc
November 5, 2023
November 2023 If we go to a nursery and see a beautiful plant that we want to buy, we might buy it and get immediate
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Living A European Lifestyle
Francesca Filanc
October 16, 2023
October 2023 Joy is important in life. As gardeners, we receive joy when the vegetables that we’ve planted come up. Read Full Article: https://www.sdhortnews.org/post/garden-surroundings-living-a-european-lifestyle
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Cherry Plum Tree And Fig Tree
Francesca Filanc
September 3, 2023
September 2023 I hope everyone had a fabulous summer. Last month while my Santa Rosa plum was producing succulent, sweet fruit in the front garden.
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Saving Frogs Lives And Making Apple Pie From Home-Grown Apples
Francesca Filanc
August 3, 2023
August 2023 The other day I was out by the pool in the early morning and saw a large frog hanging on the pool vacuum
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Fun Surprises in the Garden
Francesca Filanc
July 3, 2023
July 2023 Here and there, I loved hearing frogs in the garden as I was writing this article. Read Full Article: https://www.sdhortnews.org/post/garden-surroundings-fun-surprises-in-the-garden