May in the Natural Garden

These copious rains of 2022-23 have been very kind to native plants everywhere... in wild places and in garden spaces... abundant flowers, on both spring annuals and shrubs, and lots of new growth. This month we continue the enjoyment as we begin to methodically prepare for summer.
Read More

April in the Natural Garden

One of the best years for native plants in memory, and perhaps for some, the best year ever! We have 24.51 inches for the season total to date at Tree of Life.
Read More

March in the Natural Garden

In general, gardeners are an optimistic lot, and usually our optimism pays off... eventually. After nearly three years of meager winter rains coupled with extreme summer heat, we are now experiencing a “great” rain year, with repeated soakings and copious precipitation that will provide deep moisture for our plants well into summer and beyond.
Read More

February in the Natural Garden

The strange September soakings coupled with the bountiful winter rains have produced unprecedented blooms in some of our driest places. The desert came out with off-season flowers in fall and winter, and has already made a good start on spring. Other...
Read More

January in the Natural Garden

January, 2023 in the Natural Garden. ...but our forecast for the next two weeks in southern California has us getting a few scraps of rain left over from the main course being served in northern California. This is fairly typical, as evidenced by Mendocino’s 40” compared to San Diego’s 10” annual average...
Read More

December in the Natural Garden

December, 2022 in the Natural Garden. ...but our forecast for the next two weeks in southern California has us getting a few scraps of rain left over from the main course being served in northern California. This is fairly typical, as evidenced by Mendocino’s 40” compared to San Diego’s 10” annual average...
Read More