Category: Vines

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Recent rains have caused an explosion of perennial bloomers to show off in local gardens. There are a number of perennial plants that are not only pretty but come back year after year for…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Planting a strawberry bed can be an intimidating prospect. But fear not, these mountain-hardy tips will give you a good start to a successful harvest of luscious berries.  It’s not quite as easy as…

All parts of nasturtiums are edible! The leaves can be used as a peppery substitute for watercress in salads and on sandwiches; the flowers make a gorgeous edible garnish for salads, hors d’oeuvres trays, and fruit salads; and unripe nasturtium seeds can…

If you haven’t fertilized your yard within the last few weeks, the start of the monsoon season is the time to feed for increased summer blooms. This is especially important for plants stressed by spider mites, from being wind whipped,…

Red Flame Grape, Vitis vinifera, melts in your mouth! Firm, fully ripe grapes have a pleasant seedless taste with no tough skins. Produces an amazing 30+ clusters of fruit per vine. Planting Tip: In an area the is hot and…

Just as we’ve done for as long as each of us remembers, we welcome back the first week of spring!  We also have the pleasure of witnessing flowering trees ushering in the return of the planting season. Once again our…

30 second plant tip of the day on the Balboa Sunset Trumpet Vine: Balboa Sunset Trumpet Vine – Bright orange to red flowers adorn this fast growing mountain vine

30 second plant tip of the day on the Akebia vine: Great way to use Akebia in the landscape to hide unsightly fence, wiring, rocks, etc.

If you haven’t fertilized your yard within the last few weeks, the start of the monsoon season is the time to feed for increased summer blooms. This is especially important for plants stressed by spider mites, from being wind whipped,…

The month of June is filled with brutal days for all plants.  With a prevailing southwest wind, 0% humidity, and no precipitation, plants are utterly dependent on their gardeners. By the end of the month plants are exhibiting smaller leaves,…