Surprises and lessons from another climate
California poppies put on a show in this Sisters, Ore., garden. (Photos: Kathy Morrison) The house was not far from the local airstrip, but with a stunning view of mountains still wearing a white...
Tagged: climate
Sunday is Sacramento’s unofficial Tomato Planting Day
Cherry tomatoes are a good choice for new gardeners, since they tend to do well no matter what the weather does. This variety is Isis Candy. (Photo: Kathy Morrison) Plus: 3 frequently asked questions...
Another spring approaches, and passion for gardening blossoms
That’s my original gardening book on the right, and the most recent edition of the “Sunset Western Garden Book” on the left. (Photos: Kathy Morrison) A letter to a new gardener (from a slightly-less-new...
Learn irrigation basics for Sacramento gardening
Confused about irrigation? Can’t blame you. “Watering 101” at Big Oak Nursery will cover the basics and more. (Photo: Kathy Morrison) ‘Watering 101’ workshop at Big Oak Nursery focuses on our climate Irrigation can...
‘The Plant Lady’ shares Mediterranean favorites
Marlene Simon will lead an online discussion of Mediterranean plants on Wednesday at noon. (Photo courtesy Marlene Simon) Is your landscape ready for a long, dry summer? It may be – if you grow...
Learn about local mighty oaks
Learn more about our region’s oak trees in a free Zoom workshop Saturday. (Photo: Kathy Morrison) Mighty oaks seem to be all around us. They’re the dominant native hardwood of the Sacramento Valley and...
Good trees, bad locations
This stump is all that’s left of the fifth and last birch tree in my yard. (Photos: Kathy Morrison) The last of the five birch trees that were in our front yard bit the...
How my first seed catalog shaped me as a gardener
The Henry Field’s 1969 Spring Catalog turned a 12-year-old into a gardener. Photos: Debbie Arrington Rediscovering plants (and bargains) from a vintage find Imagine getting a whole vegetable garden for $1.25. That was the...
A problem with Mexico in Sacramento
Pete Frichette’s Mexico plant may produce a big tomato yet. (Photo courtesy Pete Frichette) Not all heirloom varieties thrive in the Big Tomato Pete Frichette has a reputation to defend. Harvesting hundreds of tomatoes...