In today's post, I'd like to share with you a very special day that we spent with our youngest daughter, Gracie. For those of you who have followed me for a while, you will have read about Gracie's story and how we adopted her from China…

While strolling through the vegetable garden the other morning, pulling out weeds, I spotted a pretty white mystery flower growing on top of a weedy-looking stalk. I stepped over to take a closer look and scratched my head for a few…

It never ceases to amaze me how that despite how busy your calendar, everything grinds to a halt when you get sick.  Oh, I realize that there are certain types of sickness that you can press on through like a cold or even a small fever.…

After a record-setting February, I think that it's safe to say that spring has officially arrived. Plants are waking up a bit early with flower buds bursting forth with glorious blooms. Photo: 'Sierra Star' Fairy Duster (Calliandra 'Sierra…

Agave are my favorite succulent of mine in my own garden and also finds itself a prominent addition to many of my landscape designs. There is so much to love about agave, from the unique, rosette pattern of their succulent leaves to…

One of the most rewarding things about my job is having the opportunity to revisit areas that I have designed.  Despite designing landscapes for over 17 years, I never tire of having the opportunity to explore them again to see how the…

Do your kids beg you to feed them kale or other dark green, leafy vegetables?   Probably not. I confess that I don't particularly like to eat kale when it is in large pieces.  But, after planting it for the first time in my…

Native plants have become increasingly popular choices for the landscape due to the fact that they not only survive, but thrive with little fuss. On a visit to California last month, our family decided to spend a morning exploring the…

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the television camera?   What we often see is just a small portion of what goes on behind the scenes as I have learned during my occasional appearances on television. Today, I thought…