With a focus on conservation, zoo’s vast plant collections featuring rare and unusual specimens are a whole other animal BY HELEN PURCELL MONTAG (This article originally appeared in the May 13, 2023 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) Waiting to greet you at the San Diego Zoo’s entrance plaza in Balboa Park is a 27-foot […]
And we could use more — planting one in the yard might help reverse state’s 30 percent drop in tree density BY KATHY MCKEE (This article originally appeared in the APRIL 8, 2023 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) In a corner of our backyard patio, we enjoy a strawberry arbutus tree (Arbutus unedo) with a canopy […]
Mary James A landscape icon in San Diego and throughout Southern California, the ubiquitous oleander (Nerium oleander), is falling victim to an incurable disease. Native to the Mediterranean region, these versatile shrubs with slender leaves and azalea-like flowers are often planted a carefree screen, defining property lines, and providing privacy or, as one gardener admitted, “separating […]
BY HELEN PURCELL MONTAG (This article first appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune on August 14, 2021) The easing of pandemic restrictions has made this summer a wonderful time to enjoy and rediscover many of the activities that San Diego has to offer. Here’s a suggestion for outdoor enthusiasts: Pick a day, bring a friend […]
Adding one brings shade, home for creatures and psychological benefits By SKYE RESENDES (This article originally appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune on April 10, 2021) When I travel San Diego neighborhoods, I am left with the impression that we need more trees. A tree provides beauty, the wonderful sound of leaves rustling in the […]
