Fionuala Campion
Fionuala has loved the outdoors her whole life, with her passion for gardening beginning while playing and growing in the childhood gardens of her native Ireland. After moving to California over 30 years ago, she is the owner/manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, a specialty nursery in NorCal. From this platform she shares her love of growing plants and transforming landscapes, while continuing to design and maintain gardens for clients. Having raised four kids with an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, and successfully sent them on their way with remarkable weeding skills, Fionuala now lives in the countryside of Petaluma with her dogs, hens, ducks and heritage hogs.
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Northern California Regional ReportsBeautiful Blue Perennials for Northern California
The color blue evokes pleasant feelings of tranquility and harmony. Blue hues appear to be refreshing as well as calming and soothing to body and mind. In the garden, blue…
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Northern California Regional ReportsA Visit to the Ruth Bancroft Gardens and Nursery
A visit to the Ruth Bancroft Gardens in Walnut Creek is particularly rewarding in late winter and early spring. While most of our own landscapes are still looking drab, this…
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Northern California Regional ReportsIntoxicating Itoh Peonies for Northern California
What exactly is an Itoh peony? Itoh peonies were first developed by Toichi Itoh, who experimented for many years with crossing tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa cvs., Zones 4–8), which are…
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Northern California Regional ReportsGreat Native Plants for Northern California
Growing native plants is the gardening equivalent of having your cake and eating it too. Not only are these plants beautiful and more likely to thrive in your landscape, they…
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Northern California Regional ReportsDelicious Winter Greens for Northern California
In late winter, rain or cold weather often keeps Northern California gardeners indoors moping about, perusing catalogs, and planning for the year ahead. Outside, in rose gardens and perennial beds,…
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Northern California Regional ReportsFrost-Proof Succulent Survivors for Northern California
The chilly nighttime temperatures of a Northern California winter can wreak havoc on a garden filled with tender succulents. Many varieties suffer when temperatures dip below freezing unless protective measures…
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Northern California Regional ReportsClay Soil? No Problem!
Soil is a complex mix of organic materials, mineral particles, living organisms, moisture, and chemical nutrients. Its texture and ability to support plant growth depends on the size of its…
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Northern California Regional ReportsNorthern California: January Garden To-Do List
Though January is often the coldest and dampest month of the year for Northern Californian gardeners, it's also the perfect time for tidying up after last year, readying your garden…
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Northern California Regional ReportsDeterring Gophers in Northern California
Sadly, many Northern California gardeners have watched in dismay as a much-loved plant was hauled underground, disappearing before their eyes as it became a victim of a pocket gopher. This…
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Design7 Easy Fruit Trees to Grow Right in Your Own Backyard
The main problem with many of the dwarf fruit trees available is that the fruit they produce rarely matches up to that of their full-size counterparts. Research continues, though, with…
