While gardening can be a solitary experience it also offers opportunities for building relationships through garden clubs, Master Gardener programs, and interacting with neighbors, as well as strengthening ties with family members. I have met many people in my neighborhood while working in my garden. I live on a corner lot so I am usually visible…

Sunday evening my son RJ showed up at my door for dinner (his wife is out of town) and he was carrying some beautiful produce that a sweet older gentleman gave him earlier that day when he was in Bakersfield. Among the fruit were three absolutely huge lemons!   These lemons are the size of…

A few years back my brother got me a t-shirt that said “Loves to play in the dirt”. It’s so true! The act of digging, amending, planting and tending the garden has always been a joy for me. As a kid, if asked if I would rather do dishes or pull weeds you can bet…

Even in December there are some surprises in the garden! Today I found some beautiful flowers in full bloom here in my Tehachapi garden:  One is a lovely, easy to grow annual simply called Mallow. The botanical name is Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’. Notice those stripes of deep magenta? those give it the Zebra reference in…