Jane Gates
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Southwest Regional Reports
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…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Companion Planting for Successful Southern California Vegetable Gardens
For centuries, gardeners have been observing how various plants can be impacted by their vegetative neighbors. In the vegetable garden, our great-great-grandparents passed on their discoveries that tomatoes and basil…
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Southwest Regional Reports
How to Plant a Southern California Victory Garden
With so many radical changes happening daily, we are all impacted right down to our homes, our gardens, and our everyday lives. So as we move into 2023, it’s a…
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Southwest Regional Reports
5 Must-Have Native Plants for the Southern California Garden
Even though we like to think much in our lives is predictable and at least somewhat under our control, everything is continually changing, and the garden is a perfect teacher…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Autumn To-Do List for Southern California Gardeners
Southern California seems to be one of those areas that’s feeling the impact of drought more critically than many other parts of the country. Yet as autumn begins, there is…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Create a Water-Wise Garden With Stone
As water becomes a critical issue in Southern California, it has become imperative to seek a new definition of what gardening is about and what we want our landscapes to…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Vertical Gardening in Southern California
Vertical gardening continues to grow in popularity. Although the concept is not new, it is becoming more relevant than ever for Southern California landscapes. With increasingly hot, dry, and windy…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Growing a Butterfly Garden in Southern California
Most of Southern California is on the western monarch butterfly migration path and is home to a number of other fascinating butterflies that are ecologically significant pollinators. At a time…
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Southwest Regional Reports
Tips for Shopping at a Southern California Garden Center
Garden centers offer a wide range of lovely plants. Yet it’s important to consider not only the plants that we find eye-catching but also those that will thrive in our…
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Southwest Regional Reports
How to Save Water in the Garden for Droughts to Come
Water has become a critical consideration as our climate changes and reservoirs are drying. Some years may grace us with more rainfall than others, but the long-range view of the…