Southern California

  • container planting of large unique succulents
    Design

    Kathy’s Design for Her Son’s Los Angeles Garden, Part 2

    We’re back to see the garden that Kathy Sandel designed for her son in Los Angeles. She leaned into the sunny climate and embraced the design of his new home…

  • formal stone fountain at edge of garden
    Design

    Kathy’s Design for Her Son’s Los Angeles Garden

    Kathy Sandel, a retired garden designer in California, has shared her former (Kathy's Calabasas Garden) and current (Kathy's Garden Transformation in Sacramento) home gardens, and today she’s sharing pictures of…

  • pink roses in the garden
    Design

    Terry’s California Garden

    We’re in Northridge, California today, visiting with Terry Sanders: I live and garden in a very ordinary suburban neighborhood. This is a photo of part of my front yard with…

  • succulents that grow on a windowsill
    Article

    Vibrant Succulents to Brighten Your Indoor Space

    Succulents thrive in arid, often harsh climates, with abundant bright sunshine year-round and little to no regular water. They have adapted to such conditions by developing thick, fleshy leaves and…

  • Kokopelli daffodil
    Design

    Spring-Blooming Bulbs for Challenging Soils and Dry Climates

    I’m always looking to get the biggest reward from the time and energy I put into the garden. I love annuals that reseed themselves in my butterfly garden and perennial…

  • pink and purple flowers around terra cotta pots
    Design

    Volunteers in Catherine’s Garden

    We’re visiting Catherine’s Dickerson’s garden today in San Diego. We’ve visited before (A Little Slice of Heaven in San Diego), and it is always a pleasure to see what is…

  • toxic plants
    Design

    5 Common Garden Plants That Are Toxic

    Southern California has many flowering plants that are often used for landscaping. But if you have young children or pets that are likely to put things in their mouths, be…

  • Saint Catherine’s lace
    Design

    Pollinator Plants for California

    Whether you have the space to create an expansive, pollinator-friendly landscape or just enough room to pot up a couple plants that are pollinator favorites, we can all do our…

  • more colorful foliage and flowers in containers
    Design

    Jeff’s Flower-Filled Patio Garden

    I am Jeff Sisil. My wife and I live in Cypress, California. I started gardening about 20 years ago. Here are some current photos of spring plants and flowers. I’m…

  • growing aloe vera
    Design

    Growing Aloe Vera in Southern California

    Aloe vera (Aloe vera syn. Aloe barbadensis, Zones 10–11) is only one of many species in the Aloe genus. It is likely native to parts of North Africa where conditions…