As an ecologist, who studied California native plants before working in horticulture, Rachel approaches landscape design and maintenance from a holistic perspective, taking into account the overlapping needs of people, plants, and wildlife in urban ecosystems. She is the former director of horticulture and garden operations at Descanso Gardens, in La Cañada, California and is currently focused on teaching and researching in the fields of organic horticulture, rainwater and watershed conservation, and public parks and urban green space planning and management.
By midsummer you should be knee-deep in tomatoes, beans, zucchini, and peppers, so it can be hard to remind yourself to shop for seeds for your next season of vegetable…
As temperatures soar, all the grass in the neighborhood begins to brown, and you have to deadhead your flowers a day after they bloom, it feels like you’d do almost…
Bulbs and corms that originate in a Mediterranean climate are some of the best-performing but least-known plants for Southern California. There are hundreds of species of incredible bulbs from California,…
1. Give your gardens one or two deep waterings. 2. Cut back cool-season ornamental grasses. 3. Buy the bulbs you will plant in the fall. 4. Start fall and winter…
July weather is hot and dry, so why not stay inside with the air-conditioning or a fan and catch up on your indoor gardening? Indoor plants need love too, so…
Deadwood oaks and native shrubs. If your oak tree needs pruning, hire an arborist to help you navigate the rules and regulations (as well as the health issues) regarding native…
As the rains end and June gloom rolls by, things start to dry up in the garden, and many of your favorite drought-deciduous native plants, such as ‘Bee’s Bliss’ salvia…
Spring has arrived, and we are on our way to summer, so most gardeners are not thinking about their camellias. However, May and June, after camellias have finished blooming, is…
Cut back your poppies. Give your California poppies (Eschscholzia californica, Zones 6–10) a haircut, and enjoy a second, smaller round of blooms. You can also save their seed pods in…
Gardeners love cut flowers. And there is nothing more satisfying than growing your own cut flowers. With the heavy carbon footprint of imported roses, as well as the difficulty in…
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