Hymenocallis is a wonderful genus of bulbous amaryllis…native mostly to the US, Mexico, and Central America. Hymenocallis (spider lilies) are an easy-to-grow moisture-lover that are a reliable perennial wildflower in the garden. Spider lilies are a tough, low maintenance plant which makes it perfect for rain gardens. In the wild many Hymenocallis (spider lilies) often grow in or near water …

When you can’t decide between an apricot pie and a marionberry pie…

We have a large harvest in 2015. The lack of rain resulted in no fungus this year. Our first tree had ripe fruit on June 1 (four weeks early). Our second tree is just now getting ripe (it is on the shady side yard. We are running out of consumption options: fresh, apricot yogurt; apricot tarts; apricot crumbles; apricot juice; …

We have a Black Mission Fig growing in a large pot in our Sunnyvale garden. Like other fig trees, it produces a small spring crop and a larger fall crop. This is our spring 2015 crop…I got to get a larger pot

Much visited by bees, they are so easy and exude the sweetness of Spring with their flowers, form & lovely chocolate scent! Extremely floriferous, you’ll get hundreds of these entrancing, 1/2” light blue or violet flowers, set off by powder-blue stamen & a yellow throat with a dark purple ring at the top. Blooms on bushy, ferny upright stems. Highly …

Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their life are spent as a nymph living in freshwater; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. They are fast agile fliers, sometimes migrating across oceans, and are often but …

“Queen Fabiola” brodiaea (Brodiaea laxa “Queen Fabiola”) is commonly known as the triplet lily or wild hyacinth. It is also known as Ithuriel’s Spear. This perennial bulb is a native wildflower to California, growing wild in evergreen woodlands. It is found in Edgewood Preserve on the San Mateo County peninsula. Grass-like leaves appear first, followed by clusters of light blue …

Transform your baskets, containers and bedding with this superb, top quality annual. Neat, compact mounds absolutely smothered in semi to fully-double pink flowers, gracing your summer garden. Useful for the rock garden or edging borders and excellent for hanging baskets, window-boxes tubs etc. Flowers summer. Height: 20-25cm (8-10in). Spread: 50cm (20in). Ideal For:patio, cottage gardens, wildlife gardens, cut flower garden …

In late spring and early summer, streets are awash with the magnificent purple-blue blooms of jacarandas (Jacaranda mimosifolia). As well as being superb street trees, jacarandas look stunning on their own as a specimen tree in an open lawn, where their fallen flowers form a colorful carpet of blue. My Sunnyvale garden has no room for the jacaranda but beyond …

This citrus relative from Australia has slender, arching stems lined with narrow, dark green 1-2 inch leaves. It will bloom nearly year-round in our Sunnyvale climate, with star-like 1 inch blossoms, rose pink in color. Sun or light shade, well drained soil, moderate watering. Plant Size: 3 feet high Landscape/Garden Uses: Foundation plantings Flowering Season: Nonseasonal Flower Color: Rose pink …