April in the Natural Garden
April 8, 2023
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.
Tag: Words by Mike Evans
March in the Natural Garden
March 3, 2023
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.
February in the Natural Garden
February 13, 2023
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…
January in the Natural Garden
January 5, 2023
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…
December in the Natural Garden
December 6, 2022
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…
November in the Natural Garden
November 14, 2022
September, 2022 in the Natural Garden.
As soon as this Labor-Day-thru-early-September heatwave breaks, provide an early morning Deep Soak for your entire garden. Continue with your regular (daily is OK during the heatwave) Refreshing Sprinkles in the late afternoon or early evening.
September in the Natural Garden
September 8, 2022
September, 2022 in the Natural Garden.
As soon as this Labor-Day-thru-early-September heatwave breaks, provide an early morning Deep Soak for your entire garden. Continue with your regular (daily is OK during the heatwave) Refreshing Sprinkles in the late afternoon or early evening.
August in the Natural Garden
August 8, 2022
August, 2022 in the Natural Garden.
Following the old adage, Native plants, birds, pollinators, and all manner of living things, (including us), are very busy through each long day, and sometimes we feel tired at the end. Read on to learn how to invigorate both your garden and your spirit, in the bright light of each long, hot day.
Ugly Is Not a Turf Replacement
June 27, 2022
To avoid these easily recognizable and just plain ugly “syndromes,” let’s achieve functional beauty by exploring some key planning and planting principles. Consider the following points whether you are replacing existing turf, or working on a new design that might have traditionally been planted with turf, back “in the good old days.”
June in the Natural Garden
June 17, 2022
June, 2022 in the Natural Garden. Your natural garden should be just fine in your absence, perhaps it’s at a stage having become “self-sustaining,” so you can go play in nature.