Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Sorted by date Results 51 - 67 of 67
The recent much needed rains came to a parched earth. I haven’t seen such an early rainy season for many a year, and it is greatly appreciated by the flora and fauna. It will take decades and more to regenerate the below-ground aquifers and continued snowpack in the Sierras to help the region out in the long run. The past fire season brought havoc to areas throughout the state, from Bonsall to Los Angeles, Ventura and up to Paradise in northern California. Erosion control i...
“There is one blue planet floating in space, let’s take care of her.” Here are my 2019 gardener’s resolutions: * First, adjust your lifestyle to be in harmony with the earth flora and fauna. * Tackle that problem area in the garden and take joy in fixing it. * Start more veggies from seeds and learn the art of germinating seeds. * Start a neighborhood garden and get your friends and family involved. * Consider permaculture as a new wave of gardening and lifestyle. * Conside...
It was last December that the raging Lilac Fire blew across the hills of the community of Bonsall and the south end of Fallbrook. The fire started along the Interstate 15 freeway corridor, and the flames quickly were blown across the rolling terrain of West Lilac Road over to Camino Del Rey and down the San Luis Rey River bed. I was called in to assist several of those fire victims with damaged landscapes. A friend of mine lost his huge greenhouses that burnt to the ground wit...
If you are into plants and beauty and would enjoy a wonderful holiday botanical outing, Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar is a must do this time of year. This garden center has been voted as one of America's most beautiful nurseries, and I concur for I have been in hundreds of nurseries both in the states and the continent in my lifetime. A cheerful outing up to Corona del Mar, near Newport Beach is a garden lover's voyage at any time of year, but during the Christmas season,...
With the holiday seasons beginning, what flowering plant is more traditional than the beautiful holiday poinsettia? The species poinsettia is from Mexico and the original plant is far removed from where it is today with modern-day cultivars of many different colors and shapes. The poinsettia was originally brought back from the wilds of Mexico and introduced into this country by Joel Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1825. Mr. Poinsett was an avid gardener who grew...
Many people ask me about fall-colored foliage trees like back east. They usually are referring to the blazing hardwood forest that is glowing with all shades of yellow, reds, orange intermingled with evergreen trees around the perimeter of the wooded areas at this time of year. Well, we might not have those exact autumn-foliage trees out west, but we do have our own fall colors like chorisia speciosa, the silk floss tree, that is ablaze with a colorful flowering canopy of...
With the horrific fires that have burned up and down the state of California, I have recollections of the Rice Canyon fire of 2007 that burned here in Fallbrook. If you recall, the entire Fallbrook population was evacuated from that fire with the howling Santa Ana winds blowing cinders and sparks miles away from the origin of the fire. In the past week, the television's vivid broadcasting coverage has brought back those fire memories, and my heart goes out to all those in the...
This little blue planet floating in space that we call home has given us so much to appreciate, and trees are one of those magical growing components. The multiple benefits of trees are wide and varied, and we might not always think of how trees affect our lives daily but here are some thoughts to ponder in your daily life about the trees that surround us. • Trees combat climate change: Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the a...
Matilija poppy has been called the "Queen of California flowers" in the words of Mary Parsons in her book "The Wildflowers of California," 1897. It seems more appropriate for this beautiful California native in lieu of the "Fried Egg Plant," a name which I never thought this elegant and stately plant deserved. Botanically speaking, it is a Romney coulteri, and Matilija is pronounced "ma-til-li-ha." It is one of most recognized of California flowering native plants. With some...
What can be more joyous out in a Southern California garden than the arrival of springtime with the burst of a bountiful parade of blossoms? My joy and pleasure in springtime are turning to the shady glades of my garden under the tall canopy of various trees, with the glorious eruption of orange and yellow flowering Clivias. The genus "Clivia" is in the amaryllis family and is from the Natal region of South Africa with four main species most commonly found in the United...
Spring is happening and so are the flowering redbuds (cercis canadensis). When you look real close, the petite flowers resemble a tiny pea, hence they are called "Pea Flowers" This species is native to eastern and central North America and is in the legume family. It's one of my favorite early flowering trees that announce the beginning of a new season, but there other species from California, Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico and even China with many cultivars. Redbuds are considered...
Jackfruit or artocarpus heterophyllus is a unique and interesting fruit that is known as the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. It is from the mulberry family. For the first time, I have seen them at Major market in Fallbrook, and it is a real show-stopper. Jackfruit originated in southern India and Southeast Asia and is grown in the tropical regions around the world. Today, it is being grown in some tropical regions of Mexico and is being imported to the states. One...
The early beginnings of Arbor Day began with J. Sterling back in 1870 in Nebraska with his vision of planting trees on the barren and open plains of his state because he didn't believe there were enough trees for the sustainability of the land in his area. Sterling was a true ecologist in getting the word out to the world that planting trees is a good thing, and the Arbor Day movement began. With the first National Arbor Day celebration, it was said that 1 million trees were...
The topping and butchering of trees in any community is like a plague from time to time. This destructive pruning practice of cutting back large branches to stubs leaves wounds that invite bugs, decay and disease that can enter a tree. When the general public sees more and more of this indiscriminate cutting of trees it becomes acceptable and it definitely is not. Topping can destroy a trees natural shape, its beauty and grace. It saddens me for I know that people pay top...
What is the practice of horticultural therapy both now and historically over the years? The therapeutic benefits of the garden and natural environments have long been documented and practiced since ancient times. A resurgence of that practice is growing to aid people in dealing with life's daily challenges and the varied stress levels in our society. Horticulture and garden therapy is all about being amongst the plant kingdom from flowers to trees to the wide world of outdoor...
This past week, the Lilac fire in north San Diego County touched many people, many homes, animals, land and nurseries on 4,100 acres of land. The Rainforest Flora nursery, located on West Lilac road in Bonsall, was heavily damaged by this fast moving and staggering wild fire. My heart also mourns the horses that perished in Lilac fire and the heroic work of all the folks down at the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center The nursery is the world’s largest growers of tillandsia o...
With the recent tragedy of the Lilac fires comes the damaged environment and charred rolling hills of Bonsall and south Fallbrook. Within the landscape, many trees that beautifully dot the communities have been damaged and the question is what to do? Within a few days, the sight and sounds of the buzzing chainsaws and chippers will be a common occurrence as people attempt to clean up the damage and move forward with their lives. With the loss of trees comes emotions from the...
