Home and Garden
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Hummingbirds in flight
One of nature’s fascinating aspects in the garden is the flight of hummingbirds. The UC...
Scarification: The simple seed-starting trick that helps tough-coated seeds sprout faster
Scarified seeds don’t have to wait around for their coats to break down under soil.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Pointers for perennial plant propagation
"Our column focuses on propagating herbaceous and woody perennials through stem cuttings. The process uses...
A kaleidoscope of oddball tomatoes to try as seed-starting season nears
One of these oddballs just might be the tomato you love the most.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Focusing on long-blooming perennials
"Compared with annuals, perennials offer long-term beauty, require minimal maintenance and provide a foundational landscape...
Record cold has fireplaces working overtime. Should those ashes be put to use in the garden?
Wood ashes from burned untreated wood can benefit your plants — but with caveats.
Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people and the planet. Here’s how to start yours
It's not hard start to a garden from scratch or decide what to plant.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Growing plants from seeds
Now is the appropriate time to plant seeds for spring blooms in the garden. Growing...
How to create a calming ‘nature nook’ with indoor plants. Advice from Hilton Carter
Make the nature nook part of your daily routine to transform your mood.
Where are those darn keys? Tricks for remembering where you put things
For things you use regularly, it helps to create a system and practice doing it.
Snow protects your garden beds. Trees might need some help
Heavy snow can damage tree branches, especially evergreens.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Using AI to empower gardening
"Our recent columns have focused on uses of artificial intelligence to select plants, address plant...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Scheduling care and maintenance
"This column focuses on scheduling plant care and maintenance," writes columnist Tom Karwin. "We begin...
The secret to pest-free houseplants starts at the nursery
Bringing home a new houseplant? Prevention is key to avoiding pest infestations.
Meet the succulents that look like dolphins and hearts
Succulents with unique leaves are particularly striking.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Real gardening with AI — Problem solving
"Our current topic concerns ways a gardener can use AI to answer questions and solve...
Herbs grown indoors require extra care. Here are some tips
Herbs like rosemary and sage can thrive if properly managed.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Real gardening with artificial intelligence
"Gardeners can use AI technology to manage routine tasks, improve the accuracy and timing of...
Christmas is over, but what to do with the tree? These landfill alternatives can also help your garden
Some 10 million live Christmas trees end up in landfills every year.
Deck your garden with boughs of holly, a plant rich in symbolism and evergreen beauty
No doubt you’ve seen your share of hollies this month — but are they growing...
Creating a simple garden sanctuary for year-round relaxation
Studies show that spending time in a garden reduces stress.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Focusing on foliage
"Many flowering plants are currently dormant, so the current season presents an ideal time to...
The secret to keeping your holiday greenery fresher longer
While freshness isn't guaranteed, these tips can help.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Exploring the subfamilies of blooming bromeliads
"The bromeliads comprise one of the most eclectic plant families in the Americas, including epiphytes...
This underappreciated holiday flower has upside-down blooms
These perennials bloom only in winter.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Exploring bromeliads in the garden
My garden includes — or has included — a range of plants from Mediterranean climates,...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Selecting roses for your garden
Our previous column included notes on pruning and propagating roses, and beginning a project to...
Doing these fall garden chores will make your spring easier
Tackling a few tasks now can make spring much easier.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: The season for roses
"Roses are going dormant, so the fall season is the time for annual care for...
Transform fallen leaves into valuable leaf mold for your garden this fall
There are a few ways to turn fallen leaves into valuable leaf litter.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Cultivation of Pacificas
"Gardeners are currently in the midst of this year's season for cultivating Pacific Coast irises,...
Why is the government dropping millions of flies?
Meet a scientist fighting the invasive pest that threatens billions of dollars in agricultural damage.
Give caterpillars a ‘soft landing’ under your trees. The ecosystem will thank you
Beneficial insects and critters need a safe home in which to rest, hide, breed and...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Biodiversity in the garden
Biodiversity is a very large subject that is well worth everyone’s time and attention. Today’s...
From errant birdseed to mint mishaps, gardening can be as scary as any Halloween night
Many gardeners have faced unexpected horrors in their yards.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Fall planters, spring bloomers
"Gardeners can divide and install a wide range of plants during the fall months, taking...
Transplanting shrubs: Timing and technique for a thriving garden
You may be itching to move plants around, but proper timing is imperative.
Throwback styles meet modern tech for a retro revival in our living rooms
In the design world, a retro revival is underway.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Seasonal garden review, one section at a time
"The fall season offers opportunities to walk through your garden, spot problems to solve and...
How to cook, freeze or pickle plant scraps instead of throwing them away
Many of the scraps that people throw away from garden vegetables are actually edible.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Pruning California native shrubs
After a tall tree in my garden developed a split, I had it removed last...
As the garden winds down, it’s time to care for winter-prepping birds
Providing sustenance is one of several ways that gardeners can support them.
How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science
These behemoths are especially massive and get center stage at fall festivals and Halloween fairs.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Native plants for the fall
"We have entered the ideal season for adding California native plants to coastal gardens," writes...
How to use tech in the garden and still keep your serenity
Gardening tech is evolving to make plant care easier and more efficient.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Propagating succulent rosettes
"Ideally, the gardener should cut offsets in the spring, when the plant is ready to...
Invasive tree-killing beetle spotted in Santa Cruz
After infested trees were recently discovered near the Tannery Arts Center, the city of Santa...
Foraging revival: How wild food enthusiasts are reconnecting with nature
Some chefs have begun using foraged ingredients in creative dishes.
A look at the best times of day for watering, planting, pruning and other garden tasks
For healthy garden plants, you'll want to perform tasks at specific times of day.
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Fascinating flower forms
"Gardens can create surprises! A recent surprise in my garden was the first appearance of...
Move over, green lawns. Drier, warmer climate boosts interest in low-water landscaping
America loves its green lawns.
Transform your houseplants into art with this Japanese gardening technique
The third week of September is National Houseplant Week.
Brighten winter with indoor blooms by forcing spring bulbs to flower early
Why not bend nature’s schedule to gift ourselves some joy during the bleakness of January?
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Planting spring-blooming bulbs in the fall
"True bulbs have layered bulb scales, a basal plate and a protective tunic," writes columnist...
Rainwater harvesting grows in the Southwest and beyond to nourish thirsty gardens in a hotter world
The move comes amid worsening drought and rising temperatures fueled by global warming.