Gardening

Caring for Roses Part 2: Sun & Soil

Posted on April 24, 2018September 25, 2019 by Dorie

20180419_155102 Perhaps one of the reasons that roses are such a favorite of mine is that they can take a fair degree of abuse, yet still produce so much beauty season after season. However, there are limits to what they will put up with!

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Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2018September 25, 2019 by Dorie

20180413_185620 Happy Earth Day, and on this very important “holiday”, I have a very serious and important request of you.

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California Skies

Posted on April 20, 2018September 25, 2019 by Dorie

Windy spring days often bring in puffy clouds to the Valley. Puffy clouds want you to take pictures of them. It’s true, just ask them.

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Hoplia Beetle (Hoplia callipyge)

Posted on April 19, 2018September 25, 2019 by Dorie

20180415_154143 If you grow light colored flowers, you may have noticed this lovely little critter chewing holes in them in the spring. How sweet of them.

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California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)

Posted on April 17, 2018September 26, 2019 by Dorie

20180414_102352 There are few flowers that I don’t like. On the same token, there are few flowers that I love. I love California Poppies.

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Room for Rent, Cheap!

Posted on April 16, 2018February 2, 2022 by Dorie

My usual approach to attracting wildlife to my garden is just to plant things that they would want to come in for. I’m not into feeders and other things that will become junky clutter after a season or two.

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Storing Root Vegetables

Posted on April 6, 2018February 2, 2022 by Dorie

20180330_135353 Nothing says “tasty” like a carrot pulled from the refrigerator that proceeds to flop over like a spaghetti noodle, right? Hmmm… maybe not so much.

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Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

Posted on April 5, 2018September 26, 2019 by Dorie

20180330_110610 Orange carrots are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to think that they have always been the norm, yet they are actually the Johnny-come-lately’s of the carrot world. White and purple are really the old timers.

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Harvesting Leafy Greens

Posted on April 4, 2018February 2, 2022 by Dorie

20180403_203626 I like to get the most “bang for my buck” whenever I can. As much as I love to garden, I don’t have time to refresh my plantings as often as I like, so whenever I can extend my harvest without having to start over, I’m good.

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‘Tis the Season

Posted on March 31, 2018September 26, 2019 by Dorie

20180331_075907 I nearly walked into this one with a load of laundry in my arms. The last time I got too close, one of them got on me. It was not pretty.