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It’s Pomegranate Season!

It’s pomegranate season here in the North State and I recently watched a friend demonstrate a new (at least to me) pomegranate cleaning device that looks a little like a flat strainer. You place the pomegranate cleaning device over a… Continue Reading

April in the North State Garden & Monthly Calendar of Gardening Events

Our very mild winter and early warm temperatures, with little precipitation, have brought us to what feels like an early burst of life and color in the garden this year some of my garden plants – roses and salvias for… Continue Reading

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January 2015 in the Garden & North State Calendar of Gardening Events

It’s a new year. And in the first days of this New Year, I’m planting a new garden. In many ways, this garden – like this year – is a blank slate. The new garden is on an oddly shaped… Continue Reading

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Persimmons – Gifts of the Season & December in the North State Garden

as I eat a persimmon? the bell starts ringing? at Horyuji Temple Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) PHOTOS above: firm rounded persimmon ripening at the Genetic Resource and Conservation Center, also known as the Tree Farm, in Chico. Persimmon have long represented… Continue Reading

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Legacy: October & The North State Calendar of Gardening Events

As I compose this month’s calendar piece two things are foremost in my mind. The first is that it is raining. Really raining and the sound and smell and light of this much anticipated seasonal weather has a forceful and… Continue Reading

Sweet – May in the North State Garden & Regional Calendar of Gardening Events

PHOTO: Rosa ‘A Shropshire Lad’ April has me left considering the total inadequacy of the word Sweet. I have happily filled my house this past month with old roses, hybrid tea roses, musk roses and climbing roses, with Salvia fructicosa,… Continue Reading

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Waiting For the Rain, February in the Garden & North State Calendar of Gardening Events

Photo : A small Pacific chorus frog, waiting. How long has it been? I sat with my eyes closed this past Wednesday just listening – listening to the sound of the rain on the roof, on the trees, on passing… Continue Reading

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The Origanums – Beautiful Cornerstones of the North State Herb Garden

I’m a big believer in Beauty for its very own sake, but in a gardening life where choices must be made as to what we will give room, resources, time and attention – it’s always nice to love a plant… Continue Reading

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June in the Garden & Calendar of North State Gardening Events

All loss is potential opportunity. Opportunity for change, for growth, for creativity. This is not news to anyone – it’s a story old enough to be a complete cliche. And yet, sometimes being reminded of even obvious truths can be… Continue Reading