My Adventures in Gardening
I grow vegetables and fruit, rescue orchids, and sow wildflowers for the pollinators. These are my notes as I learn: what I planted, what went wrong, and what I'd do differently.
What's Here
Orchid Rescue
An abandoned phalaenopsis I found in a park, and getting orchids to rebloom
Vegetable Notes
What I plant each season and whether it worked
Natives & Wildflowers
Drought-tolerant flowers from mixed seed, and which ones are really natives
Local Shops
The small, independent nurseries and florists I shop at
What I've Learned
Mostly mistakes, and what I'd do differently.
What Worked, What Didn't
My experiences growing tomatoes, broccoli, shishito peppers and herbs with permaculture principles.
Wildflowers From Mixed Seed
A wildflower seed mix scattered before the rains starts flowering in the spring. Different seeds germinate, providing a rotation of wildflowers through the seasons.
Flowers Among the Vegetables
I grow flowers around my vegetables to attract pollinators. Cigar plant, monkey flower and magenta salvia bring them in, and my tomatoes produce well.
My Indoor Garden
My indoor garden is as elaborate as my outdoor one. I have close to 35 indoor plants, and some move in and out or change spots depending on the time of year.
Ask a Master Gardener
The UC Master Gardeners answer gardening questions for free. Their helpline is (650) 276-7430.
Bringing an Orchid Back
Someone left a healthy phalaenopsis in a park near me, so I brought it home. I'm still learning how to bring orchids back and get them to flower again.
About This Site
I'm a home gardener sharing my love for gardening. I grow vegetables and fruit, rescue orchids, and sow wildflowers for the pollinators. I write down what happens as I go: the varieties, the dates, what failed, and what I'd do differently. Everything here comes from my own garden, unless a caption says otherwise.