Our bounty of citrus
Sacramento’s oranges are nearing peak ripeness They line the streets leading to the state Capitol. Neighborhoods are named in their honor. In February, they seem…
Read MoreHome & Garden
Friends in charge
East Sac nonprofit poised to run city’s Shepard Garden and Arts Center Sacramento’s official clubhouse may be getting a change of management. The city-owned Shepard…
The Big Show
Northern California Home & Landscape Expo has something for everyone A lot has changed in the quarter century since the Northern California Home & Landscape…
Old is new again
New seeds and plants for 2020 are twists on past favorites We want bigger tomatoes, smaller pumpkins and old-fashioned flowers in modern hues. But a…
He dreams of roses
World-famous expert returns to Sacramento In the rose world, Stephen Scanniello is a rock star. Curator of the New York Botanical Garden’s Peggy Rockefeller Rose…
A rosy tradition
In three hours, volunteers prune entire McKinley Park rose garden Rain can’t keep rose lovers out of this garden. The first Saturday of each year,…
Seed money
Perennial plant club grows gardening with grants Think of this as seed money for the future of Sacramento gardening. Each January, the Sacramento Perennial Plant…
Poinsettia passion
The star-like flower is a holiday favorite, especially in red Seeing red? It’s that time of year—poinsettia season. Christmas in California wouldn’t be the same…
Pruning time
You can’t smell the roses if they’re way over your head It’s time to tell your roses: Knock it off! November’s mostly dry and relatively…
Fallen leaves
Turn all that foliage into free mulch “What am I going to do with all these leaves?” Ankle deep in fallen foliage, that’s a common…
Holiday cheer
Gardeners have many ways to grow seasonal spirit There’s no snow on the ground in Sacramento, no frosty cues for hot chocolate and sleigh bells….
Return of ‘The Claw’
Leaf season in Sacramento brings back curbside collection Scraaaape! “The Claw” is back and it’s music to my ears. As a Sacramento homeowner and avid…
Fire season
Suburban residents need to be ready for wildfires, too My trees are touching and it’s making me nervous. The more I learn about wildfires—how they…
Charlotte’s web
Most spiders aren’t scary, and control pests I had to admire her industriousness, even if the results made me scream. Spanning the width of our…
Perk up your garden
Used coffee grounds make an excellent compost Want a greener garden with more flowers and less work? Give your soil some grounds. Used coffee grounds…
Stop and smell the roses
’Tis the season for America’s official flower It’s a good time to stop and smell the roses—or at least admire their beauty. October is Sacramento’s…
Like bees to honey
UC Davis Arboretum’s bountiful sales lure gardeners Maybe it’s pent-up demand or a need to plant something new. But when the Arboretum Teaching Nursery at…