Matilija Poppy: California’s Spectacular Fire-Following Flower By Kathy McKee, UC Master Gardener, San Diego (This article originally appeared in the May / June edition of California Gardens Magazine) Few plants capture the drama of the California landscape quite like the Matilija poppy. Striking in its display of large “fried egg” blossoms and deeply tied to […]
Growing a buzzworthy backyard By Kira Olsson (This article originally appeared in the April 11, 2026 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) Did you know that San Diego County is officially the “bee capital” of the U.S.? In May 2025, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation designated San Diego as a Bee City USA, recognizing […]
6 low water, beautiful bloomers that are optimal for growing in San Diego County By Dawn Standke (This article originally appeared in the Jan 10, 2026 edition of the San Diego U-T.) The UC Master Gardener Hotline often gets calls with questions like, “I saw a tree covered in beautiful flowers. Can you tell me […]
By Mo Price Have you ever seen a plant so unique and beautiful that it had an impact on your life? It happened to me 22 years ago, shortly after becoming a volunteer at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The plant was a Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa); it had a bright yellow-orange 7” x […]
By Sharon Reeves (This article was originally in the June 14, 2025 issue of the San Diego Union/Tribune) Plants are anchored in one spot, but they are cunning. They have mastered the art of enticing more mobile organisms to do their bidding. It is the goal of every living thing to procreate and to […]
