-
1 week ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
A year ago, I summarized current projects in my garden, including planting a butterfly garden, acquiring a dwarf avocado tree and adding exotic plants to the garden. That column can be reviewed from the Sentinel’s archive: tinyurl.com/4d2see7f. Now, a year later, this column presents another review of projects in my garden, including updates of last year’s projects. This serves as an indicator of progress and a marker of my garden’s current condition, for my reference.
-
2 weeks ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
Our recent column, “Thoughts about trees,” described the large trees in my garden, provided basic guidelines for tree care and promised a column about the criteria for selecting the right trees for the garden. Let’s get started. First, we present several reasons for incorporating trees into the landscape and then recommend selection criteria.
-
3 weeks ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
In 1978, when I moved to this property, it already had six trees, each approximately 40 to 50 feet tall. They could have been in place since 1936, when the original owners built the house, or they installed the trees shortly thereafter. Over time, we removed three of these large trees. The first tree was growing too close to another tree and was overwhelmed by Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis), a noxious invasive weed.
-
3 weeks ago | 
montereyherald.com | Tom Karwin
"At this time of the year, from late May to early June, nature offers gardeners the opportunity to enhance a selected category of plants," writes columnist Tom Karwin. "The focus is on widely popular garden plants, specifically herbaceous perennials that typically bloom in the summer." Standard Digital $3 for 1 year Offer valid for non-subscribers only Originally Published: June 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM PDT
-
4 weeks ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
At this time of the year, from late May to early June, nature offers gardeners the opportunity to enhance a selected category of plants. The focus is on widely popular garden plants, specifically herbaceous perennials that typically bloom in the summer.
-
1 month ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
As a frequent visitor to West Cliff Drive, I have developed a preference for public landscaping. Stephen Kessler’s recent column praising the ice plant on West Cliff Drive has encouraged two effective letters to the editor and my response. I wrote about the ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) two years ago. To review background info, visit the archived column at santacruzsentinel.com and search for “Invasion of the ‘Pigfaces'” (one of its common names).
-
1 month ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
Recently, we encouraged readers to review their gardens periodically to identify both strengths and needs for improvement. I followed this practice myself, with a gardening friend. We both appreciated the plants, while my friend also checked out the trees and spotted three issues that warranted attention. Today’s column reviews the discovered needs for tree work and still highlights a few new blooms. Let’s start with the tree work issues.
-
1 month ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
This column returns to a regular recommendation: walk through your garden to appreciate recent growth and blossoms, spot problems that need attention and identify opportunities to enhance the landscape. Taking a fresh look at your piece of nature can be a departure from daily pressures and an invitation for creativity. Today’s image gallery features blossoms that I encountered during my garden walk. These images are only selected examples of spring growth.
-
1 month ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
Getting your hands in the dirt is essential for gardening. A recent article about dirt reported, “Experts say that regular contact with healthy soil has physical and psychological benefits for adults as well as children.”We continue to advocate direct involvement with installing and maintaining plants as an enjoyable and beneficial activity. Still, we cannot ignore the technology that surrounds us.
-
2 months ago | 
santacruzsentinel.com | Tom Karwin
Gardeners are enjoying a seasonal series of shows and sales by local garden societies. This column has recently highlighted events by the local chapters of the California Native Plant Society, the American Dahlia Society and the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. There’s more to come. The Santa Cruz Orchid Society and the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai club will co-host their respective shows on May 3 and 4 at the Capitola Mall (in the space previously occupied by the Sears store).
