Cilantro
In spring we plant cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) seeds in a row in the “greens” garden early. If it is the same spot as last year, there are often some volunteers nearby from seed dispersed late summer. I try to choose … Continue reading →
D. Smith
UBC Botanical Gardens
When we travel, we try to visit botanical gardens and take the time to observe, enjoy, and photograph flowering plants. Whenever we visit the west side of Vancouver, we walk the trails in the UBC Botanical Gardens. It is the … Continue reading →
Chamomile
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an annual herb in the Asteracaea family. It readily grows from seed and usually reseeds in abundance. These low-growing plants can be attractive in masses when flowering but look more weedy later in the season. … Continue reading →
New Zealand Gardens
We were in New Zealand for a month, living in a campervan and touring. We hiked or kayaked every day and explored a number of areas. We stopped at several gardens, notably in Queensland, Kaikoura, and Akaroa. We … Continue reading →
Nitrogen-Fixing Plants
When we fertilize our gardens we are adding needed nutrients. Nitrogen is the primary ingredient, provided to assist plants in the production of chlorophyll to support photosynthesis, allowing plant cells to build. Nitrogen is needed to produce green leaves, … Continue reading →
End of November Flowers
In the last few days of November, the temperatures ranged from -3ºC to +2ºC. No hard frosts had yet decimated standing plants, but that is not far away. In the vegetable garden chard and arugula was still fine. … Continue reading →
Gazanias
Gazanias (Gazania rigens) are warm-weather (Zones 9 – 11) summer-flowering herbaceous perennials in the daisy family. They bring vibrant colors (oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds) to the home garden. They also called African daisies since they are native to South … Continue reading →
Desert Museum Botanical Gardens
We spent some time in March hiking in the Tucson area. There were wildflowers on the trails, but we also visited a number of gardens. The first was the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The 98 acre facility had … Continue reading →
Outdoor Propagation
The traditional method of propagating perennial seed follows these steps: harvest the seed when it is mature Clean the seed and remove all other material Give the seed some time to dry and be dormant In early spring or late … Continue reading →
Early November Appearances
There has been a few light frosts overnight and the garden beds are being cleaned up of frost-bitten annuals, going-dormant perennials, and end-of-season vegetables and herbs. Some of the many chores in progress are listed on the Journal page. … Continue reading →