All in the Name of Reproduction Nature creates an amazing array of patterns in the plant world providing us with a never-ending source for observation and inspiration. Look closely at a fern frond, and you can see the evidence of this patterning in the various dots or dashes that appear, typically on the underside of…
Conservation Projects Protecting biological diversity Conservation of plant biodiversity is central to the Garden’s mission, and much of this work happens ‘behind-the-scenes’. We’re excited to share news about the Garden’s partnership with the Mt. Diablo Buckwheat Working Group, a consortium of local stakeholders including California State Parks, among others, working together to preserve Mt. Diablo…
Director of Collections Andrew Doran Dear Garden Community, At approximately 4:30pm on Tuesday March 21st a loud crash was heard by the few remaining staff on site during the high winds that gusted through the Garden. Immediate suspicions were that the large coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) that predates the Garden had partially failed with the loss…
The new year brings much needed moisture, and the rainy season is in full-swing in Northern California! However, concern over extreme weather conditions continues, not just in California but around the country, and the world. Whether we face a drought or deluge environment, it is still important to conserve water as it is a precious resource….
Dr. Lew Feldman, Garden Director The onset of fall brings cooler weather, shorter days, and brilliant color seen across a range of plants. We are presented with stunning displays of orange, yellow, red and purple leaves. What causes the foliage to change color? The environmental cues that make a plant ready for winter are typically…
Christine Manoux, Director of Education and Visitor Engagement; Cat Callaway, Horticulturist On Monday, October 10, 2022 (Indigenous People’s Day), the Garden hosted a special event for the public in our Crops of the World Garden collection in partnership with the local cultural group Indigenous Permaculture (IP). In this area, the Garden arranges plantings of food crops based on areas…
Dr. Lew Feldman, Garden Director Changing the Location of a Plant One of the more common and challenging activities for both indoor and outdoor gardeners is changing the location of a plant, which is sometimes necessary when a plant has become too large for a particular location, or, for indoor houseplants, perhaps associated with rearranging…
Ethan Fenner, Horticulturist A visit to the Southern African collection is rewarding any day of the year. Walking south along the main road, just past the Arid House, you’ll find the sloped beds representing an ecoregion known, generally, as “Karoo.” Derived from a KhoeKhoegowab word meaning “Land of thirst” (1), the Karoo beds are home to…
Jason Bonham, Horticulturist Stuck at home and unsure of what to grow? Now is the time to plant cucumbers! Cucumis sativus, aka cucumbers, are part of the Cucurbitaceae family. This family is commonly called the gourd family and contains pumpkins, squashes and zucchini to name a few. Cucumbers are native to India and have been…
Jason Bonham, Horticulturist What if you wanted the vigor of a wild plum with the large sweet fruit of a farmer’s market plum? With the magic of grafting, you can have both. Grafting is a horticultural practice in which a branch or bud of one plant is attached to another plant. Practically every commercially available…