Balboa Park in Bloom: March

How would you like to tour a magnificent urban forest without looking up from your phone? Balboa Park contains thousands of beautiful trees from around the world. Towering giants and quirky flora from Australia, South and Central America, South Africa, India, and China thrive in San Diego’s Mediterranean climate. Join me in a look at … Continue reading Balboa Park in Bloom: March →

Please join me in a look at Balboa Park in Bloom's Best! ** Flowering Peach African Tulip Naked Coral Flowering Plum Strawberry Snowball Trunk of a Floss Silk. Yeah, go ahead and climb... Brazilian Coral Helen Borcher Flowering Peach Magnolia. From the age of the dinosaurs. Speaking of prehistoric animals... Orchid South African Coral Trunk … Continue reading The Best of Balboa Park in Bloom →

Hit and Run: A True Story

Four years ago tonight, my wife woke me and said, "Your car was just hit out in the street." Of all the ways my wife, or anyone else, has greeted me, this was among the least fun. "Oh, hello. And nice to see you, too. Got any other uplifting news?" She was less than pleased. … Continue reading Hit and Run: A True Story →

Balboa Park in Bloom: Stop and Smell the Roses

Balboa Park is home to an award-winning rose garden, free and open to the public year-round. The Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden is situated on the eastern edge of Balboa Park’s Central Mesa, along Park Boulevard. It was built in segments, beginning in 1973, and has been recognized multiple times for its beauty. Nationally … Continue reading Balboa Park in Bloom: Stop and Smell the Roses →

Happy Mother’s Day, Kate Sessions!

She referred to plants as her children and used to say that a fifty cent tree should be planted in a five-dollar hole. Kate Sessions (1857-1940) is the “Mother of Balboa Park.” She earned the title by decades of labor, care, and support that transformed what was once City Park, a 1,400- acre tract of … Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day, Kate Sessions! →

Lemonade out of Lemons

You’ve heard the saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” It means you should try to make the best of a bad situation. For example, if you’re sheltered in place during a global pandemic, you can use the opportunity to read easygoing, light-hearted books like Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, or Signs Preceding … Continue reading Lemonade out of Lemons →

Compost Day

Isn't every day compost day? Yes, but today was different. We have a week of heavy rains ahead in San Diego, so today was a good one for our annual tree composting. All that rain will soak the nutrients into the soil and "feed" the trees. ** Compost Bin Before Compost materials are: DirtLots of … Continue reading Compost Day →

Adopt a Banana Pup

San Diego, ever wanted to grow your own bananas? My wife and I "installed" 2 bananas plants in February, 2016. They looked like this... One Manzana (left), one Cavendish (not left) Now they look like this... You'll note there are several more than one Manzana and one Cavendish... The bananas grow off of a stalk, … Continue reading Adopt a Banana Pup →