California has more rare, threatened, and endangered plants than any other state. Plant populations disappear as homes, shopping centers, schools, and other developments replace habitats. Native plants are also lost to too-frequent wildfires, to climate change, and to human overuse an

The only thing better than farm-to-fork is garden-to-fork. Little compares to picking your own sweet ripe tomato and pinching off basil leaves for a homemade lunchtime caprese salad. Or, harvesting squash, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and onions to make a delicious caponata This year,

Oh to be an artist and fill my garden with art! Alas, that is not my calling. Still, I can make my garden into art and you can, too, by following my simple strategies for adding pottery as art to your garden. While the many beautiful pots on the market may tempt you, do your best avoi

There aren’t many waterwise summer blooming bulbs for Southern California’s hot and dry climate.  Most waterwise bulbs bloom in spring here, then go dormant.  But there are a few that bloom in summer with a very little irrigation, and an extraordinary few that bloom with no irri

Backyard fruit is the talk of the town right now – or maybe talk of the garden. Gardeners are worried about trees that have yet to leaf out or bloom, about grapes that don’t seem to be developing, about leaves that look misshapen, and more. Most of these concerns are a lot to do about

There’s no better way to give your garden a sense of place than by using native plants. Still, it can be challenging to decide what is truly native, and figuring out how to use those plants in a garden setting, rather than a restoration. Restorations essentially recreate the plant com

A number of years ago, I was touring gardens in Shady Canyon, then a brand new development of grand homes in Irvine, California. The homes wound up and down the side of a hill – each property with a gorgeous view. As we stood in the backyard of one home under construction, I looked do

— Nan Sterman When I dine out, my first choice is always farm-to-fork and farm-to-table. When I cook at home, my first choice is my own farm-to-fork. My little “farm” is the vegetable garden where I’ve grown all kinds of edibles, from artichoke to zucchini, for

— Nan Sterman People often ask where the ideas for episodes of A Growing Passion come from. Some come from places I’ve written about or projects I know from the decades I’ve been a journalist. Some are topics that fascinate me or pique my curiosity. Some come from producer Maria

— Nan Sterman Plumeria are fragrant, flowering shrubs that are easy to grow in frost-free, water-wise gardens. Most people associate Plumeria with Hawaii but that’s not their native homeland. Where is their native habitat? Watch our show, Intoxicating Plumeria to find out.