As plain as a bird can be, marked only by a short crest, the Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) nonetheless has personality. Pairs or family parties travel about the woods together, exploring the twigs for insects and calling to each other frequently. Before Sunnyvale was Sunnyvale, the community was known as Encinal, the spanish word for Coast Live Oak. There are …

Sunnyvale has a Mediterrean climate. This type of climate is defined by mild, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. It is the rainfall pattern that makes the Mediterranean climate distinct. Very often, places with warm summers and mild winters receive large amounts of precipitation during the summer months. Summers in Mediterranean climates are distinctively dry. The Mediterranean climate …

Climbing Aloe (Aloiampelos ciliaris) is a fast-growing succulent from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It’s named “ciliaris” due to the white, hair-like teeth appearing around the edges of the leaves and stems. Aloiampelos ciliaris belongs to the aloiampelos genus, which includes six other species of climbing aloe plants. Aloe ciliaris plants are part of the Asphodelaceae family. Aloiampelos Ciliaris …

A delicate flashback variety with antique pink and yellow petals. long-lasting cut or dried flowers or use as edible flowers in salads. Self-seeding annual. Direct sow in late Spring or start seedlings indoors 6-8 weeks before planting date. Harvest for cut flowers when half open.

We had a lot of oranges and lemons in our Sunnyvale garden this year so I decided to make marmalade, for the first time. We have a Washington-Navel Orange tree and a Improved Meyer Lemon tree next to each other in a 18-inch wide trench. The trees are twenty years old and pruned to 8 feet tall by 6 feet …

This recipe is a good use for radishes: either home-grown or store-bought. See Radish – Early Scarlet Globe for growing radishes at home. The pickling liquid has infinite variety. INGREDIENTS 1 bunch of radishes (18-20 average size radishes)1/2 cup vinegar1 cup water1 tablespoon granulated sugar1 1/2 teaspoons saltSpices (whatever you want and in any quantity)chopped gingerchopped garlicmustard seedsfennel seedsred chile …

Early Scarlet Globe Radish is a very early radish variety with bright red skin and white flesh. So crispy, crunchy, and delicious, this variety is a long-time favorite of gardeners everywhere. They go great on fresh salads, or simply enjoyed raw. In our Sunnyvale garden, we plant radishes from November through February. Flavor: Juicy, crisp, and mild.Preparation Ideas: Adds crispiness …

There are two major types of persimmons commonly available in America: fuyu and hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are squat and round and can be eaten out of hand like an apple. They have a crisp, almost waxy texture, and a sweet flavor slightly reminiscent of gingerbread. For hoshigaki, however, you will need to use hachiya persimmons. These are longer and pointed. …

We have a Bearss Lime tree in a large pot in the corner of our yard. The Bearss lime is ripe in December and January. It is golf-ball sized and when ripe the rind is yellow instead of green. This year there were several dozen limes. What can you do besides play golf. Preserve them! They add a great flavor …

Lemon Verbena has a citrusy fragrance and a pretty light green foliage. The leaves can be used in a variety of cooking: including limoncello. I grow it in a foot-square patch under a fruit tree It’s an herb with a strong lemon flavor.. Lemon verbena’s flavor is also rounded out by the lack of acidity that comes with lemons, and …