GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Wisteria Brings Joy Every Spring
April 2023 I write about wisteria every April because it is so magnificent and worthy of having a place in one’s garden or patio. Read Full Article: https://www.sdhortnews.org/post/garden-surroundings-wisteria-brings-joy-every-spring
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Creating Your Own Flower Arrangements
March 2023 A friend passed away recently, and I wanted to send a specific floral look for the gift, a basket with pastel colors and an orchid as the focal point. I had contacted the florist that I usually use but she was unavailable for health reasons. Another florist that I have used in the […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Spain – Basque And American Tradition
February 2023 The holidays this past year 2022, as well as ringing the New Year in, were spent with my family in Spain. My daughter Yvette and her two daughters live in a small village on the side of a mountain about half an hour outside of Pamplona. Read Full Article: https://www.sdhortnews.org/post/garden-surroundings-spain-basque-and-american-traditions
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Meyer Lemons For Your Home Garden
January 2023 January is the month when many of us make New Year’s resolutions. It is the month to throw off the old and welcome the new. Because we are welcoming in a new year it is also a fabulous time to think about changes that we want to make in our lives and also […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Are spider mites taking over the world?
November 2022 The other night as I was putting my dog out to do his business, I screamed because I ran right into an Orb-weaver spider web. It’s okay though because these are very large beneficial spiders in the garden. However, this morning I found plants in my garden suffocating from spider mites, a fast-growing […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Easy to Create Butterfly Sanctuary
October 2022 We fall into fall and look forward to cooler weather with leaves changing colors. Where we live in San Diego County, autumn is the time to start planning and planting our winter vegetables and prune back perennials. It is the time to stop feeding plumerias and other tropical plants and trees as well […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Easy to Create Butterfly Sanctuary
September 2022 Think of the joy you will feel by making your garden into a butterfly sanctuary. It is easy to do. Even if you don’t have space for a garden, a balcony or the walk to your front door is a perfect spot to plant a passionflower vine in a pot and you will […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Magnolias
August 2022 ‘A tree or shrub with large, typically creamy-pink, waxy flowers. Magnolias are widely grown as ornamental trees.’ When I first moved to this property the idea was to put in a swimming pool. Swimming is my exercise of choice and I knew having a pool would be great for my children and grandchildren […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Amaryllis
July 2022 According to GardenGuides.com, “In Greek mythology, it is believed that the flower was a quiet and shy nymph that fell in love with a shepherd, named Alteo. Alteo had the physical beauty of Apollo and the power of Hercules, and he did not return Amaryllis’ affection. Amaryllis tried to win the love of […]
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Using Garden Structures Makes Exciting Gardens
June 2022 It is always thrilling to see the use of arbors, pergolas, towers and tuteurs in a garden. Queen Marie-Antoinette had an exciting, excessive garden built in 1775, making use of structural hardscape at what is now the large public park located along the western edge of the 16th arrondissement of Paris called Bois […]