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5 Essential Tips : Caring For a Christmas Tree
How can you make sure the tree lasts all the way until the special day? Read on to find out.
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A Weekend Camping in the Desert Wilderness
The weather’s perfect right now for a camping trip in the desert, a smidgen North of Joshua Tree.
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Six on Saturday – 11 Sep, 2021
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The weather is turning towards a warm fall, and the plants are putting out new leaves and new fruit every day. The weather and the growth don’t seem to agree at all. I’m glad they’re happy!
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Office Plant Transplanting
With all these plants needing some love at the same time, I feel like it’s time instead for a makeover. I absolutely love having plants by me when I work. Whether at home or the office, a little greenery makes everything happier. I’m hoping that the transplant will give these plants the room and humid climate to be as happy as they make me.
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Six on Saturday – 21 Aug, 2021
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The odd summer is continuing onward, bringing more fog and a morning with light drizzle. It’s still cooler day by day, almost like summer decided it was done out here before August is. Whichever way the weather decides to go, many of the plants are growing like it’s spring again.
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Lion’s Breath – Simhasana
For people who are shy about speaking up, Simhasana pranayama is a great way to let out some noise. When you roar in Simhasana, your air should flow out freely. Do your best not to constrict the throat – this is all about freeing it up! The breath instead comes from contracting the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor.
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Six on Saturday – 14 Aug, 2021
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Summer’s going through mood swings and the plants are trying their best to adapt. We haven’t had rain in quite a while, but fog has been rolling in each day and leaving a mess of dew all over the place. The plants don’t seem to mind – but they also don’t seem to care. They’re growing at their own pace, despite whatever the day or season wants to tell them.
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Diaphragmatic Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing is something we do instinctually. It’s also something we can easily do consciously. Just like other forms of mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing can have far-reaching benefits, not the least of which is that breathing is good. And when you’re breathing with your diaphragm into the furthest reaches of your lungs, it can be even better.
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Bhramari – Humming Bee Breath
Surprising as it may sound, buzzing like a bee can be just about the most relaxing, mind-numbing way to settle your head. When you breathe in the Humming Bee Breath manner, you’ll quite literally set your brain abuzz.
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Six on Saturday – 31 Jul, 2021
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This week has felt entirely too cool for the time of year it’s supposed to be. When you think of summer in Southern California, it’s all sunny beaches and… sun. This week’s been a bevy of clouds, fog, and dew so thick that it watered my plants one morning.
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A Trip Through the Heated Southwest
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One of the most astounding road trips I’ve ever taken. I won’t go much into the personal details, except that my wonderful wife makes the most perfect travel companion. We went together on every leg of the trip, down every path and through every wonderful snack.
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Six on Saturday – 24 Jul, 2021
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The office plants are going wild, reaching desperately for more pot space. Unfortunately, the biggest philodendron is missing completely,
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DiscOasis at SCBG
DiscOasis. It’s an oasis of disco in an otherwise disco-less land. Open until Labor Day at South Coast Botanic Garden.
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Six on Saturday – 17 Jul, 2021
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Even through a touch-and-go week, the plants are blooming up happily! The curious cactus has put up a new set of leaves, while the wildflowers treat everything like a competitor for sun.
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Cooling Sitali Breath
This yogic breathing practice can help lower your body temperature and relax your thoughts. It has an overall calming effect on the nervous system, reducing anxiety and agitation. For those of us in SoCal with the pending heatwaves and wildfire season, this breath is a must-have. It brings cooling.
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Six on Saturday – 10 Jul, 2021
been. For one thing, I have a confession to make – I left my plants alone nearly all week. I went on a long vacation. I didn’t know what the weather would be like, and I took a gamble on how to water them.
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Walking Under the Sun’s Fury
It is 1pm and 110F-ish. I’m hiding in the shade of a rock lip in Vasquez Park. I missed the desert. This post written before I cooked under the heat of the sun.
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Six on Saturday – 3 Jul, 2021
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Fourth of July is right around the corner, and the plants are bursting like fireworks! I actually think I’ll have the greatest number of blossoms that week, especially with the Billy Ball putting on a show.
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Breath Focus
This is a combination of breathing and thinking. Not a lot of thinking, mind you! Just a bit to help your breath focus in a particular way. In exchange, this exercise doesn’t require you to maintain a set rhythm or muscular use. The focus here is not exactly how you breathe, but why.
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Six on Saturday – 26 Jun, 2021
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It looks like the plants are focusing on growing leaves this week. The flowers are sticking around, the plants are the same height – but there’s just so much more green! I love it.
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Resonant Breathing – Find Balance
Resonant breathing is a uniquely-paced breathing exercise. Rather than settling into a timeless rhythm or counting numbers, you’ll be sticking to a set number of complete breaths per minute. Resonant breathing, also known as coherent breathing, has been shown to maximize your heart rate variability (HRV).
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Mindful Walking
What if you used walking to be mindful? If you find sitting still with your eyes closed to be a little slow, this is a slightly more energetic way of keeping your attention focused and your eyes open. Mindful walking is an easy way to center yourself in the here and now.
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Six on Saturday – 19 Jun, 2021
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All the flowers are finally showing life! The second heat wave seems to be agreeing with them, and they’re coming up… well, not roses. A bunch of other things instead! Even the ever-dominant thyme is flowering. There’s plenty of new leaves to share.
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Six on Saturday – 12 Jun, 2021
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Summer has simmered down for a bit with the onslaught of June Gloom. The plants that woke up during the brief warm spell have continued their reach for the sun with no signs of stopping. It’s a race to see who flowers first!
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Focus on a Single Object
As your conscious mind steps out of the way bit by bit, your preconceived notions, assumptions, and baggage go with it. In between letting it all go and pure mindless mindfulness, there’s the stage of concentration, also known as Dharana.
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Six on Saturday – 5 Jun, 2021
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The air’s heating up out here, jumping up to about 90F on some days. It’s not quite where it will be once we’re up into July and August, but for now the garden is having a happy time of it. They hadn’t quite gotten along with the cold, strong winds of late winter. Now they’re having a wonderful time sunning and getting a green tan.
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Finding your Sankalpa
Rather than focus on attaining a quality you already possess, you could instead remind yourself that these qualities are already there. This is the purpose of a sankalpa. Rather than saying “I will,” you are declaring “I already am.”
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Six on Saturday – 29 May, 2021
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Memorial Day is just around the corner! That means summer is coming up fast. The garden is blooming and the leaves are… greening? Everywhere I turn, it seems like there’s a little less room for me on the balcony. The plants are taking over.
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Making Mustard from the Wild
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Mustard is wonderful condiment, and simple enough to make at home. I tried making some out of mustard flowers, but the entire plant is edible. Read here to find out how easy it is!
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Six on Saturday – 22 May, 2021
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The thyme is still producing enough leaves to feed a family, and the tomato is now the largest plant on my balcony. Looks like the watering problems of last year have been solved, and the plants are showing their happiness.
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Six on Saturday – 15 May, 2021
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We’re a few weeks into Spring, and nature doesn’t show any signs of stopping. The grass is greener on the other side, on this side, really on any side that has grass.
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City Nature Challenge Wrap-up
The City Nature Challenge is over! I can’t wait until next year, to check up on how these plants are doing. And to add a few more to my collection. Congratulations to everyone who took part! I’m always so happy when a big number of people turn out for nature.
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Six on Saturday – 8 May, 2021
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Spring is showering new growth on all the plants in the garden! I couldn’t even find space to fit the photos of the cress in this post, let alone growing space on my balcony. Most everything else seems to be doubling in size each week, if they haven’t already finished growing.
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An Introduction to Mindful Gardening
Gardening is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness. We care for plants as best we can, giving them the chance to grow. We can practice mindfulness, giving our thoughts room to grow.
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Six on Saturday – 01 May, 2021
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Spring is an unstoppable force in the garden. The things that flower won’t stop flowering. The things that produce food aren’t producing food currently – the tomatoes haven’t blossomed, the squash refuse to grow taller, and the cress has gone to seed. Still, there’s plenty of new plants in the garden, and plenty of greenery to enjoy every morning!
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Palos Verdes – City Nature Challenge
Get your portable phones and cool cameras ready for a five-day bioblitz style event! From April 30th to May 3rd, be on the lookout to log and identify all the plants and animals you can possibly find in the Palos Verdes area.
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Six on Saturday – 24 Apr, 2021
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Spring has really taken over for the balcony plants. Every plant is growing, and most have nearly doubled in fluffy foliage. I can’t help but feel delighted every time I step outside.
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10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
Every year, we celebrate Earth Day on April 22. This is a day for the earth: for cleaning, remembering, and planning to ensure a positive future for nature. During past Earth Days, events such as river cleanings and the clearing of invasive species has often taken the mainstage in drawing communities together. This year, the holiday is going digital.
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Six on Saturday – 17 Apr, 2021
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Spring is showing off with the life it’s breathing into the balcony plants. The Ginkgo is showing a great spread of new leaves, the sunflower is already spreading its pad, and the wildflowers are surviving over-wet conditions.
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Six on Saturday – 10 Apr, 2021
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Spring is finally showing itself in the form of many happy plants! The olives are starting to bud up, the Ginkgo has finally awoken from winter, and the cress won’t stop flowering!
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The Sun and its Angles
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Plants really enjoy sunlight – some more so than others. When you’re planting a plant outdoors, it’s useful to know what ‘Full Sun’ means on the seed packet, and whether your corner of the balcony or yard is going to get it. Find out where to look up the sun’s angles and how to apply it!
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Six on Saturday – 3 Apr, 2021
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The garden is hopping right along as Spring gets underway here! All the plants are racing upward toward the sun, and even the Ginkgo has decided it’s time to wake up.
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March Garden Roundup
Spring has finally sprung in the garden, and everything is getting growing. Most of the seedlings have been transplanted to their long-term homes (at least until they end up in the kitchen…). Check out the post to see how all the plants are getting along!
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Six on Saturday – 27 Mar, 2021
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Spring is finally taking off in the garden! The plants are all starting to enjoy the warmth and growing daylight, and the calmer winds are letting them keep their large leaves safe. I can’t wait for all the tasty plants growing on my balcony to be ready to eat – except the Cress, which is unstoppable. I probably managed to plant just a bit too much! Also featured are sunflower, hummingbirds, squash, and more!
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(Garden) Cress
Garden Cress is an easygoing, cold-tolerant, tasty plant that can be harvested and eaten at any point in its growing cycle. Easy to care for, harvest as needed with a pair of scissors. Find out how to grow this slightly tangy salad green!
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Six on Saturday – 20 Mar, 2021
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This week has been a lovely week for the plants. They’re all showing some signs of new life (except the Ginkgo, which has started to worry me). The plants that have already sprouted are chugging along, growing to greater and greater size. There aren’t many new leaves on any of the plants, but the existing ones are getting larger by the day. I’m looking forward to many tasty plants on the balcony!
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Mint
Growing mint in a container isn’t only easy – it’s also recommended! Mint is a delicious, voracious weed that can be grown from divisions, cuttings, or seeds. Find out how to care for mint here!
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Six on Saturday – 13 Mar, 2021
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Spring is starting to roll into town (on the back of a sudden rainstorm). Many of the plants are ready for transplant, and some others are holding on to their winter woes. Looking forward to another week of happy plants!
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DRECP – Renewable Energy in SoCal’s Deserts
The powers-that-be want to streamline a process where desert land can be handed over to energy developers who want to invest in clean energy infrastructure. They’ve written a plan – the DRECP (Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan) – to delineate what is allowed to go where.
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Paperwhites
If you’ve ever grown daffodils, you’re not far off from growing a Paperwhite! These lovely little flowers grow from bulbs, and are even open to blooming in winter. Find out how to grow them in water or soil!
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Six on Saturday – 6 Mar, 2021
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Back again with another 6 garden-related updates on Saturday. Spring is in the air this week, with nearly all the plants showing more life than even a week ago. Many plants are already in need of being moved up to larger pots. Follow along with the growth here!
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End of February Garden Roundup
February has been a busy month in the balcony garden. Cress has grown even faster than the Paperwhites. Tomato seedlings put on mass at the same time as Sunflowers. And the Billy Balls never disappoint. Check out the Garden Updates here!
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Bloodleaf
The Bloodleaf (Iresine) is also known as a Chicken Gizzard, which should say a lot. It’s a bright red and purple bundle of joy that loves heat and humidity. Find out how to care for one!
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Six on Saturday – 27 Feb, 2021
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Back again for another Six on Saturday! This week the garden (halfway) wakes up for Spring – Tomatoes and The Lonely Sunflower decide it’s time, while the Ginkgo argues otherwise.
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Searching for Snow near LA
If you’ve been watching the San Gabriel Mountains north of LA, you’ve seen the snow. I wanted to see the snow up close, and not just through a few dozen miles of pollution. The environment changes completely at 5000 feet altitude, only a few miles off the 210. Find out about the Icehouse Canyon Trail and plan out a trip while there’s still snow!
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Boston Fern
The Boston Fern is a wonderfully easy houseplant to care for. Keep the soil moist (and don’t let it freeze or boil), and you’ll have a happy plant for a long time to come. Read here to find out more care tips!
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Six on Saturday – 20 Feb, 2021
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Back with another Six on Saturday post! In for this week, we’ve got plants getting ready for Spring – Polka Dots flowering, Sunflower seedlings, Grape cuttings, and Garden Plans.
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A Little Landscaped Desk
Scotch Moss isn’t actually moss – it’s an evergreen perennial shrub that grows low to the ground. It’s also perfect for a desktop pet plant!
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Polka Dot Plant
The Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a fast-growing, self-seeding, pruning-loving houseplant of many colors. You know them when you see them! Check here for a detailed guide on taking care of them.
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Six on Saturday – 13 Feb, 2021
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It’s time for another Six on Saturday mixup-mashup of news in the garden and outside! On the plant today are a handful of blueberries, some new tomatoes, paperwhites, a hike in search of snow, and a leaf shaped like a heart. I hope you’ve all had a great week!
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iNaturalist – the Amazing App
Have you ever come across a plant in the wild that you couldn’t identify? An app called iNaturalist may be the easiest way to put a name to a leaf. Join me in a walkthrough of making an observation as I try to identify a strange plant on the coast.
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Money Tree
The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a pretty easy houseplant. As long as there’s no drafts and the watering schedule stays constant, it’s a happy tower of green. Find out how to care for one!
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Six on Saturday – 6 Feb, 2021
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A Six on Saturday post for February 6th, 2021. This week saw some Corkscrew Rush and Polka Dot Plants get transplanted, the Christmas Tree is alive (still), and some new sprouts in the garden.
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Roundup – January’s End
A look back at what’s happened in January, both in the wider environment and in my own garden. Most notably – the LA smog is back, my garden has new LED grow lights, and South Coast Botanic Garden’s GLOW event is over.
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Chrysanthemums
You’ve probably seen large, happy chrysanthemum flowers while walking about outdoors. If you’ve been wanting to grow some at home, check out this post to see how they thrive and what you need to do to keep them blooming.
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Six on Saturday – 30 Jan, 2021
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A Six on Saturday post wrapping up the end of January. New LED lights for the indoor plants, growth on a moss log, extreme weather, and more!
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Climate Since Covid
Only time will tell what the final effects of the COVID shutdowns are on the environment. During the height of the lockdown, air quality improved almost immediately. NO2 and CO2 (from fossil fuels) both decreased. This effect was noticed most heavily in major cities, though arguably the whole world benefitted. Fine particulate matter, PM2.5, similarly dropped.
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How to Grow Thyme
How to grow and care for thyme. There are many species of thyme, and growing them is incredibly easy. Learn all about the plant here!
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Six on Saturday – 23 Jan, 2021
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My first Six on Saturday post! Featuring philodendrons, Billy Balls, Daffodils, and the inevitable LA smog.
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Air Purifying Plants
Plants are natural air purifiers. We put out a heck of a lot of carbon, and all plants will help reduce that to some degree. The only issue is that carbon isn’t the only thing we’re putting into the atmosphere. Our atmosphere indoors, where we’re spending so much time, is incredibly important. We put out a few other notable bad chemicals in the course of daily living – ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene. Check here for some plants that can clean your air!
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Tillandsia (Air Plants)
This is a detailed guide on how to care for Tillandsia (air plants). These are strange, bundled-up plants that drink water from everywhere but their roots. They make for great plant pets!
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The Whole Dang Year
Looking back at the whole year – the lockdowns have had some changes. More plants at home, and definitely going outdoors more often to get some fresh air!
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The GLOW Fades
After a couple months of GLOW at South Coast Botanic Garden, it’s time to look back at the light and the music. (For those who didn’t attend – it’s a walking / music / plant / light show with a water theme)
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Making Baby Cacti
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Succulents (and Cacti) are surprisingly easy to propagate – to make more plants. They can often be grown from cuttings – small pieces of the parent plant that take root. Find out how!
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Joshua Tree: After Hours
I recently headed over to Joshua Tree, hoping to catch some stars or some snow. Neither of my hopes came true. The sky stayed overcast the whole evening, and the ground dry. And it was perfect and still and I loved every minute.
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Plants Named California
Vasquez Rocks Park had some rain recently, and nature went wild. From blooms to berries, this is a look at two plants named after the state that responded nicely. (California Juniper, California Cholla)
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Strolling in the Rain
Had a wonderful day at South Coast Botanic Garden in some heavy rain. The leaves looked amazing! And the plants are holding up better than I did in the cold.
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Garden Journal – Christmas Week
Finally putting the old daffodil bulbs back in some dirt (only a month late…), revitalizing some old dirt on the balcony, and sewing some Billy Buttons at the right time of year.
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The Lonely Ginkgo
The Ginkgo is currently most threatened not by disease or the environment, but by logging. Our homes are our own environments. We get a say at what survives, and can even help plants thrive that otherwise might be disappearing.
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Cactus Bones
Cholla cacti have wood skeletons. After they die and the water evaporates, after the skin falls off and the desert critters move in – they leave behind some wood. I never connected the plants as alive to how they were when dead.
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Deserted Daffodils
After a few store-bought daffodil planters died at home, the dirt lay neglected in a bag on the balcony. Somehow, the daffodils have come back. I’m so excited.
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Wrinkled Beavertail Cactus
The Beavertail Prickly-Pear Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) is a mainstay in Joshua Tree and much of the rest of the Mojave. Learn about it here!
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GLOW – at SCBG
Glow is happening at SCBG until January 10th, 2021. If you want to take a break from being stuck indoors – or take a break from more ‘normal’ plants – swing on by the garden to see the foliage in a new light! (Yes, that was a pun)
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Flushing the Pot
I’ve had a bad habit of watering my plants every 2 to 3 days – when the top layer of dirt was just starting to dry out. I just never followed proper watering techniques – letting some plants dry out a bit more, flushing the soil, and the like.
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Plants Eat Food – Trace elements
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Trace elements, partially because of just how little the plants metabolize, are a little tricky to keep track of. Generally, if you’re using compost or manure or rotating your plants, these elements will never be in short supply. That being said, it’s nice to know what’s out there and what these nutrients do for the plant.
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Global Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
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Desertification and Drought Day is an effort to remind people that what we buy and consume comes mostly from the earth.
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Plants Eat Food, pt2 – Secondary Nutrients
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Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. Secondary only refers to the quantity, not the importance of the nutrients. These are just as important as NPK!
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Plants Eat Food, pt 1 – The Big 3
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Part 1 of 4. Plants want to gobble up everything they can of 3 key macronutrients – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Here’s what NPK does to plants!
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Open Desert
I don’t know how long the weather and the traffic will be clear, so now’s the moment. Take a chance to enjoy the desert while everything’s blooming!
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Garden Journal – Week of April 27
We try to rescue the strawberries from a cramped life of fruitlessness. And, the olive tree finally shows a problem. Is it fixable?
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Planting the Sun
I’ve got plenty of seeds, plenty of random plastic cups to start the seeds, and potentially some balcony space with regular sunlight. There’s only one way to find out if these things will ever actually grow in SoCal.
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Garden Journal – Week of April 20
Ever since I’ve put these peppers in, the majority of the fruit have been quite small. I want to know why!
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I miss the park
It looks like we’re coming to the end of this whole debacle. Maybe. Probably not quite yet. I already miss going to the park.
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Garden Journal – Week of April 13th
Got mites on the apple mint again. What the heck is with the love these little critters have for my mint? Also, we welcome two chrysanthemums!
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Yellow Chevroned Parakeet : Far From Home
The yellow chevroned parakeet did not originate in Southern California, but it’s certainly made itself home here and across much of the surrounding area. Take a peek at this observation at SCBG, and find out more about these lovely birds!
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A Circle of Noses
Take a deep breath in, and then a deep breath out. Now do it one nostril at a time. Otherwise known as Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, nose breathing is just about one of the easiest, most healthy calming and meditation techniques on hand. As long as you’re not congested.
Mindful Foliage
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