gardening

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…

Read More

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…



Sad tomato

It’s a mixed bag for growers of heirloom varieties This was a tough summer in the Big Tomato. For many growers, Sacramento’s favorite crop struggled….


Go native

Native plants are good for animals and save water Do something for local wildlife. Plant a native. If you want to help Sacramento birds, bees…


A hidden gem with an English touch

Sacramento’s Woodlake neighborhood takes a bow for home tour Woodlake always was meant to be different. Its winding streets deliberately contrast with Sacramento’s logical straight-line…


All about begonias

Sacramento hosts national convention for popular plant For the first time in 41 years, Sacramento is the Begonia Capital. Begonia lovers from throughout the country…


Halloween, wine and blossoms

Gardeners should mark these dates on their calendars Too early to think about Halloween? Not if you want to squeeze into Sacramento’s Historic City Cemetery…


Smart, not lazy

Organic gardening pioneer says planning pays off When it comes to gardening, Robert Kourik sees value in being lazy. Take a step back, sit down…


Sticks and stones

Use mulch, not rocks, around lawn trees Rocks in a garden can be attractive. They can form paths or add accents. But rock mulch around…


A haven no more?

A bee sanctuary at UC Davis faces funding crunch Honey bees aren’t the only ones at risk. So is their Yolo County haven. Officially named…



Gardening the Grid

Midtown residents squeeze plants into tight spaces While gardening in Midtown, you never know what you’ll dig up. “These homes were built before they had…