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

— 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.

— Nan Sterman Have you noticed your plants wilting in the heat? It’s been so oppressively hot that droopy leaves are everywhere. Here’s what you need to know about plants that wilt: if they look droopy at the end of the day, don’t worry. If they look droopy first thing in the mo

–Nan Sterman In these hot days of summer, we take pleasure in watering vegetable gardens and fruit trees but we don’t often think about watering pines, liquidambar, magnolia, floss silk, and all the other trees that grow so well in our climate. Once tree roots are deep in the ea

— By Nan Sterman Having a waterwise garden means much more than simply planting unthirsty plants… To create a waterwise garden you have to look at the garden as a system in which every component contributes to water conservation. Start with soil. Whether your garden has he

— Nan Sterman Major change has come to western gardens and gardening!  This past week, I was interviewed by reporter Robin Young of National Public Radio’s Here and Now. Robin traveled to San Diego from Boston this week and was surprised to see so many people tearing out lawns.

— By Nan Sterman Fried egg plant and matilija poppy are two names for Romneya coulteri, a giant of the poppy family.  This big, beautiful perennial forms crepe papery flowers as large as salad plates.  The combination of white petals and bright yellow center earn this plant the

— By Nan Sterman Poinsettia season is upon us!  Growers ship out the bright red and soft yellow colored plants every day, sending them to nurseries and garden centers across the country. Thanks to late Encinitan Paul Ecke Jr., poinsettias are the plants we mostly closely associa

Gardens introduce kids to the magic of planting, growing, and interacting with elders at Sunshine Care Assisted Living Facility in Poway, CA.  At this memory-care facility, children and seniors garden together in innovative ways that gives all ages and abilities a sense of purpose.  C

We get to visit so many wonderful places while we are shooting A Growing Passion.  People welcome us into their gardens and businesses with open arms.  One of the really interesting stories we’ve explored is that of Bonsai Sensei, Phil Tacktill. Phil grew up in New York, in the city w