~ A somewhat autobiographical look at how plants have impacted my life ~
We’re Having a Heatwave
The weather in San Diego experienced extreme heat and humidity from July through September, culminating in a record-breaking six-day heatwave in early October. Though a tropical storm brought much-needed rain, many plants suffered distress, showing signs like wilting and yellowing leaves. The heat caused chlorophyll breakdown, revealing other pigments and stressing roots, impacting nutrient transport. Various plants, including agaves and hibbertias, sustained damage, with some dying due to excessive sun exposure. Conversely, tropical plants in shaded areas thrived. As autumn approached, signs of seasonal change and the beneficial rain provided hope for recovery.
Rain Diego
The post discusses recent extreme weather patterns in San Diego, highlighting significant rainfall, including a record 6 inches in 24 hours. Following an extended dry spell, winter rains began unusually early. The author also details storm damage to garden plants,
The Chelsea Australian Garden
September, Scott Borden, Kathy Ascher, and I participated in a garden tour in Western Australia. You can read more in my earlier blogs on Wireless Park and Kings Park located in Perth, Western Australia. After the tour, Scott traveled to
San Diego Mountains Fall Color
Long before the 2003 and 2007 fires in San Diego, Scott and I embarked on a November hike to the summit of Iron Mountain in Cuyamaca State Park. I was struck by the fact that, from the mountain’s peak, there
Three Tree Aloes
Kristin Law, a long-time friend on Facebook, sent me a message. Kristin specializes in landscape design and maintenance and owns “Law of Nature Garden Design.” Although we had never met in person, I was familiar with her through her numerous
Perth- Kings Park
I was eager to return to Western Australia ever since my visit in 2016, and one of the top places on my list was Kings Park. It boasts the largest collection of Western Australian plants globally, featuring over 3,000 native
Wireless Park- Western Australia
For years after a road trip that Scott and I did in Western Australia back in 2016, I’d wanted to return. I was totally blown away by the plants, scenery, animals and open spaces. This time since the planning and
Over the Moon
I don’t remember when I first noticed moon gates in gardens. However, viewing old photos from garden tours, I discovered a few. The earliest photo was on a Pacific Horticulture Society tour of gardens in the New York area in
Garden Fling 2025 – Memphis
In June, I attended my second Garden Fling of the year in Memphis, Tennessee. Last year’s event was in Seattle, and you can read my blog about it here Puget Sound Garden Fling 2024. Since 2008, the Fling has been
San Diego’s New Official Flower
It’s official. Blue-eyed grass is now the official flower of San Diego. From the April 22, 2025, San Diego Union Tribune: San Diego has a new city flower for the first time in 61 years. The City Council voted unanimously …
The Giant’s House – New Zealand
In November of 2024, my partner Scott and I spent 14 days with the Oregon Hardy Plant Society touring the gardens of New Zealand’s South Island. In my last blog, I wrote about the last garden on our tour, The
The Wild Dream Garden- New Zealand
This November, my partner Scott and I spent 14 days with the Oregon Hardy Plant Society touring the gardens of New Zealand’s South Island. We saw some incredible places and gardens, so many that it was nearly impossible to choose
Front Garden Refresh
In 1998, when we moved into our 1939 Spanish Colonial Revival house in Mission Hills, we found that despite having an acre of land, there was little space available for landscaping and planting. The only area suitable for this purpose