An intriguing sage unlike any other I am used to growing, Salvia reptans offers a unique texture in the garden. Unfortunately, it is one...

For twenty plus years, my commute followed the Russian River from Healdsburg to Duncans Mills. Sometimes I would keep going all the way...

Valley Water, Santa Clara County's water authority, has been a leading influence in helping community members find practical and creative...

When thinking about street trees for California, there are few evergreen examples that check off all the boxes of requirements and still...

It was not until finding this photo that I realized the petals were in the shape of true love, reminding me to admire the details if not...

Recently, I posted about Verbena bonariensis, a rigid, upright perennial that's character is more aligned with our subject today, V....

With a species epithet like grandiflora, meaning with large flowers, one should have great expectations, but let's temper our excitement...

Asters are a treat in autumn, mostly blooming just before chrysanthemums. Many are showy and exhibit a color range from white to shades...

Unlike most perennials, Verbena bonariensis provides a unique texture and height in a border garden. Rigidly upright and topped with...

One minor regret I have from my college years studying landscape architecture was not taking enough photos while studying for a semester...

What started as an innocent gift from a dear friend has turned out to be one of the hardiest potted plants in the garden. Oscularia...

If a landscape design calls for tropical plant species, one cannot go wrong with including Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Its genus, Hibiscus,...

Designers may already be familiar with Japanese maples and flowering cherries, but this Japanese snowdrop or snowbell tree offers a...

Who else was raised thinking geraniums were red, white, pink or orange, usually found in hanging pots or in window boxes? That was my...

There are a number of cultivars of A. millifolium, but 'Paprika' stands out for me thus prompting this separate post. The facts below...

Cottage gardens and perennial borders cannot exist without Rudbeckia hirta. Okay, that is an overstatement, but their daisy-like flowers...

In the past decade, Chilopsis linearis has started to pop up in Northern California as a viable, colorful option in the landscape ...

Trumpet vines are numerous, and a few thrive here on the West Coast of the United States. Because of their exotic trumpet-shaped flowers...

We moved to Palo Alto when I was child, so I was amazed to learn that we had our own pomegranate tree in the front yard, already well...

Another popular plant for ornamental landscapes, its hardiness and prolific blooms add an informal charm to the landscape. When used...