New article up at the Examiner: Horticulture magazine and Monrovia nursery have teamed for a garden giveaway contest! http://www.examiner.com/article/garden-giveaway-contest

New article at the Examiner: Win an autographed copy of 'Succulents Simplified' and a $100 gift certificate! http://www.examiner.com/article/timber-press-contest

This spring, something I've been waiting for for years has happened: the laburnum, AKA golden chain, tree is blooming. This is a big deal to me because I grew this plant from a seed. Then, when I put one in the ground, the gophers ate it. I put another one in the spot. The deer ate it. It survived, but now instead of a regular tree shape with a single trunk it's a giant multistemmed thing. But that's all okay, because it's now taller (barely) than the house and it's doing this:

Finally, a new article at the Examiner! This one is about the Pasque flower http://www.examiner.com/article/perennial-pasque-flower

New article posted at the Examiner, on annual California poppies: http://www.examiner.com/article/annual-california-poppy

Meanwhile, down at the local elks club today...

New article up at the Examiner: The color pink in the garden http://www.examiner.com/article/pink-the-garden