If the recent heat wave of almost two weeks of triple-digit temperatures has discouraged you a bit about gardening, don't give up. The crape myrtle, technically lagerstroemia indica, is the ideal summer...

The chrysanthemum - queen of the autumn garden - has been around for well over 2,000 years, and is still beloved around the world. What started as a less-than-imposing scraggly daisy in China is now...

Wonderful weather. Amazing. Unbelievable for August - especially during the California State Fair. Those are pretty common observances these days. But what they omit is that it's also grand weather...

August is winding down; so is summer. There are still some long, hot and lazy days to be enjoyed, however. Watering is still the most important chore to be done in the garden. Remember deeply and infrequently...

If you've ever sighed in frustration at seeing water running down the gutters, you'll be delighted to know that July has been designated Smart Irrigation Month by the Irrigation Association. We are...

Has gardening changed much in the last 100 years? Well, yes and no. There are so many innovations now, in plants and equipment, but the basics remain essentially the same. One of my most cherished gardening...

It's July and time to think about spring-blooming bulbs. If you rely on specialty catalogs, now is the time to get your order in. I know it's hard to think about fall planting when we're struggling...

Our gardens would be much poorer today if it were not for the thousands of vegetable and flower varieties that gardeners have saved from extinction over the past three decades. These old-time plants...

One of the cardinal rules of the gardening world is thinking ahead. For spring bloom, plant bulbs in the fall - and think about it far enough ahead to get them ordered. The same thing, on a slightly...

With the high price of gasoline, many of us will be adjusting vacation plans this year. It may mean a shorter trip or even none at all. Enhancing the back yard so that it becomes a welcome respite will...

June is almost over. Is it too late to plant for summer enjoyment? No way, say leading experts. Tomatoes, eggplant and peppers can still go in this month. Seeds of beans, corn, squash and chard will...

Holiday ahead - a long weekend, plenty of fun events to keep you entertained as we celebrate America's heritage. But there are still a few chores in the garden that cry for attention. Tending to them...

The Merry Month of May is here with longer days and warmer temperatures that encourage everything in the garden to grow fast. Gardeners will keep planting, adding flowers and vegetables from nursery...

It's mid-May. The weather has warmed, and while there may still be a few cool, even rainy days ahead, for the most part we've turned the corner and the long hot summer is upon us. All of which means...

Rain, rain, go away; do NOT come again another day. I think we all feel like this edited version of the old nursery rhyme these days - enough, already! True, all the recent downpours have left lawns...