~ A somewhat autobiographical look at how plants have impacted my life ~
Chasing Waterfalls
I finally made it to Niagara Falls!
But we also visited many more waterfalls in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. But our primary goal was to visit Watkins Glen State park where there are 19 waterfalls in a 1.5 mile hike with over 900 steps. We also checked out other waterfalls near Ithaca and even paid a visit to the Cornell Botanic Gardens, marveling at the area’s natural wonders. The trip ended with touring gardens at the annual Garden Fling in Buffalo.
Southwest Australia – The Wave Rock
Western Australia’s interior features distinctive orange-red soil, flat terrain, and extensive unpaved roads. The area is marked by nutrient-poor soils and unique flora. The journey includes a visit to Wave Rock, scenic stops, and the rabbit-proof fence, leading to the
Southwest Australia – King’s Park
At the end of September, 2016, after attending a Pacific Horticulture tour of Singapore and Bali gardens, I met up with Scott Borden for a tour of Western Australia…or as they might say in the land down under, a Strine
Agavaceae – the Aggravation
Agaves are great garden plants since most are low water, need little maintenance and can add a strong accent to gardens. However, there are also problems.The obvious problem with growing agaves is that many of them have sharp leaves. Some
Agavaceae – the Adoration
We have a lot of agaves in our garden. However, it took me a while to warm up to agaves. One of the first ones I grew was Agave victoriae-reginae. It looks like a giant artichoke with stiff leaves that
The Plants Start to Go In!
This is a continuation of earlier posts about filling in our swimming pool and replacing it with a garden. The previous posts were about the construction and garden hardscape. This post is about the planting of the former pool area.
O Canada! Revisited
The author reflects on how a 1984 family trip to British Columbia inspired their gardening journey in Encinitas, California. Revisiting Butchart and VanDusen Gardens in 2016, they note significant differences in plant growth due to climatic variations. They now appreciate
South Africa – The Garden Route
The author recounts a trip through South Africa, emphasizing the beauty of the Western Cape’s flora, including wildflowers and the Cape of Good Hope’s scenery. Highlights include a road trip along the Garden Route, exploration of indigenous plants, a wildlife
Kirstenbosch – This is the place!
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases over 7,000 plant species, including rare and endangered ones. The writer’s visit featured diverse plant collections, highlighting the King Protea, South Africa’s national flower. A subsequent sunny
Nieuwoudtville, South Africa
This year, I celebrated my 60th birthday by traveling, including a much-anticipated trip to South Africa. With a focus on its diverse plant life, particularly bulbs, I explored Nieuwoudtville, the “Bulb Capital of the World,” witnessing stunning wildflowers, quiver trees,
Gopher Madness
This is the start of the 5th year I’ve been writing the series “My Life with Plants”. For anyone that knows me or has visited my garden, what they may find amazing is that in all those articles I’ve only
Planting the Casita
By late winter of 2003, we were ready to begin planting. Since purchasing the house in 1998, I had been contemplating what to plant. I observed the sun and shadow patterns carefully over several seasons and decided on the following
Downward March
The post details a garden project on a steep hillside, involving the creation of pathways, retaining walls, and seating areas for better accessibility. The author describes discovering and utilizing materials from previous construction, such as rocks and concrete, to enhance