“Gardening is a sacred act. When you dig a hole in the ground, and feel the soil in the palm of your hands or as it crumbles between your fingers, you’re participating in a ritual that’s been taking place since the dawn of humankind. There’s a rhythm to gardening that soothes our souls and awakens [...]
Recently an editor asked me if I had any bold flowers on black background. Rather than going through my files looking for something to transform with Photoshop I decided to shoot a new photo. It’s the height of the season after all. Clematis ‘Dr. Ruppel’ has just coming into full spring glory, twining up into [...]
It’s Spring ! At least here in California. Since many friends across the country are still thawing out, how about we go looking for a photo in my garden? My pink dogwood tree, Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Chief’, is putting on quite a show. ‘Finding the Photo’ is a classic lesson from my Workshop series. I [...]
I was all set yesterday morning to begin my post on drought tolerant plants, seeing as how we in California are in the midst of a really dry winter. Then at breakfast my wife brought me a single Camellia from the garden, set in a clever stone vase. My day changed. I am so easily [...]
Even in California, frost causes problems. And when it comes in early December it causes big problems. Almost every gardener I know here in the Northern part of the state pushes the limits of their garden. It’s California ! – it is our birthright to grow tropicals and tender succulents, plants that are barely hardy [...]