Written by Susan B. Have you ever wondered why the landscaped areas and trees in your neighborhood are covered in a layer of shredded bark, compost, or organic mulch? It does a lot to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the property, but that’s not one of the main reasons for applying mulch. We’re going to […]
Written by Susan B. Throughout the summer, we get to enjoy everything our yards and gardens offer us. Regardless of your experience, keeping up with everything you need to do, and should do to keep your flowering plants healthy and blooming prolifically, and making sure that your vegetable plants are producing can be overwhelming. And […]
Ingredient: 1/2 cup pine nuts 8 cups basil leaves packed tight 3 large cloves garlic 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes I use a heaping 1/4 teaspoon 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese freshly grated 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°. […]
Written by Susan B. You don’t have to be an experienced vegetable gardener to try your hand at growing tomatoes. Nothing rivals the taste of a vine-ripened home-grown tomato. We talked about tomato terminology and varieties in a previous post. But we didn’t talk about diseases and other problems that affect tomatoes, or the solution […]
Ingredient: 1 cup vegetable oil 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and roughly chopped 3 cups coleslaw mix 1/2 cup bean sprouts 1 stalk celery, diced 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 […]
Written by Susan B. Southern California residents are all too familiar with dry spells that have plagued our state. While we know that there are dry periods throughout the summer, we can’t predict when the droughts will be severe enough that local governments impose watering restrictions on us. Hopefully, you keep that in mind when […]
Ingredient: 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves minced 3 tablespoons butter melted 1 1/4 teaspoons minced garlic 1/4 cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley Lemon slices and rosemary sprigs for serving optional Cooking spray […]
Written by Susan B. Our magnificent and mild Southern California climate blurs the lines between seasons. Naturally, it may not occur to us to think about plants that bring our front or backyards to life throughout each season. We believe that a well-balanced landscape design incorporates green and flowering plants, shrubs, and trees that offer […]
Ingredient: 2/3 cup dried cranberries 6 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon lime zest 3 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin Salt and pepper 1/4 cup chopped cilantro Preparation: Preheat the oven to […]
Written by Susan B. Sometimes we feel the need to talk about plants that add a lot of drama to our gardens, backyards, or overall landscape. And our temperate climate gives us the ideal conditions that are necessary to create a tropical oasis. You’ll need to find a place that gets plenty of sun throughout […]