Category: Gardening

By Linda Skeff In February, while much of the San Lorenzo Valley still feels suspended between winter storms, Pink flowering currant is already in bloom. Long before most native shrubs have opened a bud, its cascading pink flower clusters hang along woodland edges and creek corridors, signaling the beginning of another growing season in the Santa Cruz Mountains. That early… Read More

Managing Drainage and Erosion in Your SLV Garden By Marielle Martin February in the San Lorenzo Valley means we’re in the thick of rainy season, and while our gardens desperately need this water, too much of a good thing can create problems. Between our steep hillsides and clay-heavy soils, many SLV gardeners are dealing with soggy spots, eroded slopes, and… Read More

By Bridget Giuffrida Now is a beautiful time of year to lean into cozy, fragrant, hard-working herbs that thrive indoors and bring warmth, nourishment, and a sense of tradition to winter living. Growing herbs inside during the darkest time of year offers not only fresh flavor for cooking and baking but also living greenery for decorating and simple homestead joy.… Read More

Preparing for a Productive Winter Garden By Marielle Martin As the rains return and the air cools in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it’s time to turn our attention to winter gardening tasks. Most of the Valley falls within Sunset Climate Zone 15, known for mild, wet winters with the occasional light frost in valley bottoms. November is the ideal month… Read More

By Marielle Martin As the Santa Cruz Mountains settle into autumn, the cooling air and long shadows make it the perfect time to rethink your garden – not just for you, but for the wildlife that shares it. With the rainy season coming on, October’s the time to plant pollinator favorites, leave seed heads for hungry birds, and find clever… Read More

Mindful choices in the garden invite a balanced, thriving landscape. (Photo by Naoki Suzuki) By Josh Reilly What follows is not intended to keep you out of our SLV nurseries or garden centers. Just the opposite. I hope you go. I just want you to pause and think before doing it. There are dragons at the temple gate. The path… Read More