News & Events
Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German…
As you know from a past newsletter, I have been walking in my neighborhood during my lunch break to try to keep the COVID-19 "15" from appearing on my hips, tummy, & derriere - you get the picture! Well I've…
Tucker the Tomato Eating Dog! Tucker, a black and tan smooth-coated " miniature" dachshund was my son Shaun's gift from his grandparents for Christmas 1998. Little did we know that Tucker would forever change the way we grew tomatoes. It all started when a…
To say I live for the Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour could quite possibly be an understatement. The motto “real gardens by real people” is a mantra for me. Throw in Mary Lou’s inspirational personal story, raising money for…
One woman’s vision forever transformed our notion of a garden. So begins the story of Jennie Butchart, who used horse and cart to transfer topsoil to the famous sunken garden at The Butchart Gardens in Vancouver Island, Canada. With 55…
History of the PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 2–13 ft. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 2.8–6.3 inches in length. The colored bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green,…
1. Due to our lovely Mediterranean climate, I can garden year-round! No having to bring in potted plants so their pots don’t freeze and crack, no putting my plants to “bed” for the winter. 2. No plant-eating critters - specifically…
The Mary Lou Heard Foundation’s meetings have begun again after a couple of months of Summertime rest to enjoy our families, our own gardens and essentially, just take a break from the busyness of that “last May push.” Can you…
Hello to all. While greeting guests in my vegetable garden I was asked at the garden tour "just how do you propagate your seedlings?" So I thought I would share the way that's successful for me. Most of the items…
Cleaning out my apron pockets, readying my "work attire" for the wash, I came across a handful of water balloons. In our house, they are "arsenal"! I am SO READY for summer activities to begin! The outdoor sink will be…
March 2019 Newsletter That's what I was looking for. I wanted to do something fun in the garden. A fresh idea. A new spin on something old. Or something completely new and original. Perhaps repurposing an object to give it…
The recent "rainy days" provided an opportunity to "cocoon" inside. Watching the storm clouds arrive through my kitchen window and trying to predict when the sun would shine again was wonderful. February is the wettest month for So Cal Coastal…
