The dirt on soil
One great thing about working with plants of all types, irrigation systems and landscapes on a regular basis is that you can get great hands-on...
Kent Horner
Oleander under attack
One of my favorite plants here in Encinitas and California for that matter is now under attack and will cost us tax payers millions of...
The history of the pumpkin
October is finally here and the weather has begun to change ever so slightly. This is my favorite month of the year. The Santa Ana...
Many upsides to planting horse tail
Sometimes it seems to me that the most interesting and unusual plants found in the world usually end up being what we call “living fossils.”...
Many upsides to planting horse tail
Sometimes it seems to me that the most interesting and unusual plants found in the world usually end up being what we call “living fossils.”...
Tricks of the landscaping trade
Working in the field as a landscape contractor for so many years has been quite an education. Many times I have been confronted with unusual...
Caring for your staghorn fern
In my last column, I talked about building shade structures or lathe houses to create a different climate for your shade loving plants and juvenile...
Moving large plants isn’t easy
When you work in the field, you will often find plants that are beautiful but too large for their environs....
Adding art to your garden isn’t new
Gardens can be awe-inspiring, beautiful and full of color, places of quiet relaxation and meditation or just plain working areas for food production....
Prehistoric plant looks great all year-round
Designing landscaping and working with plants for many years has given me many insights into their special individual requirements and microclimate needs. ...
Storied history of ‘dragon tree’ rooted in mythology
I don’t know what it is, but almost every time I get excited about a certain tree, palm or plant, I usually find out that...
Learning about ground covers
If you are a gardener, enjoy landscaping or just like to visit the beautiful gardens, we have here in Encinitas at Swami’s or the San...
Learning on the job can yield painful lessons
When I was first starting out as a young tree guy and landscape contractor putting myself through school, I didn’t have much experience, but I...