#bloom-baby-bloom

#bloom-baby-bloom

The Earth Day celebration in Downtown Pleasant Hill offers a perfect way to kick off the spring season with free, family-friendly activities for everyone.

Aquaponics systems utilize one gallon of water to produce a kilogram of leafy greens, compared to over 30 gallons in traditional farming, showcasing remarkable efficiency.

The industrious buzz of bees tackling the dregs of cherry blossom was lawnmower-loud, accompanied by back off peeps from blackbirds nesting in the ivy.

"I found this really cute picnic basket at Goodwill for $4.79 and loved the weaving on it," Ana Ochoa from @ana.ochoaliving said in a recent Instagram video. She shared that the basket's straps were on their last legs, and she had the perfect second life in mind for it.

Volunteer Linda Fisher, 68, discovered the hub two years ago when she was 'socially isolated' and said the garden 'will be an ice-breaker for people walking past'.

These beautiful cherry trees are more than a visual delight - they represent a bond between nations, a gift to our local communities, and a lasting legacy. We know after our long winters, people rejoice seeing colour and blossom, and this sea of pink will be an awe-inspiring hit of horticultural wonder.

Sol Botanica is HUNT & GATHER'S new home for gathering, where nature-forward drinks and seasonal small plates meet local art, celebrating the beauty of community.

These are Scilla sardensis, the common name is Glory-of-the-Snow. They are native to the mountains of Western Turkey but are really comfortable growing in almost any condition, as you can see. They are, for us, the real harbingers of spring. We know that once we start to see this electric blue color, the season is starting for us.

Greenwich Park has just introduced a new 'valley of blossom', planting 130 prunus 'sekiyama' cherry trees sourced straight from Japan. These new trees will tower above the park's existing cherry trees, growing to 12 metres high and 8m in spread.

Grafting is the method through which two different plants from the same species or genus are joined together to grow as one. The resulting plant benefits from the qualities of the two different original plants.

Crushed clean, dry eggshells, when scattered over the soil, are intended to stop adult gnats from laying eggs and potentially add natural fertilizer. However, they merely sit on the surface, collecting dust, while the gnats remain attracted to the damp compost.

A study by researchers at the University of California Berkeley has found that ethanol is surprisingly common in floral nectar, the sugary fuel that keeps pollinators alive. Yeast feeding on those sugars produces trace amounts of alcohol, and in this study, it showed up in 26 of the 29 plant species sampled.

BBG in Bloom runs from April 1 to May 10, showcasing cherry blossoms, magnolias, and other spring flowers, with extended hours and special programs.

"Why should tubs be relegated to bathrooms?" Poe questions, showcasing his innovative approach to interior design by placing a bathtub in the main living area.

Research consistently shows that access to green space can significantly boost wellbeing, with studies linking time spent in gardens and parks to lower cortisol levels, improved mood, and sharper cognitive function.

Southern California, especially Los Angeles, has many breathtaking botanical gardens and wildflower-lined hiking trails. But it's also exciting to visit private home gardens that are rarely open to the public and find inspiration even if you don't have space for a garden at home.

Around a third of UK gardeners use pesticides, and our studies found that house sparrow numbers, for example, were nearly 40% lower in gardens where the pesticide metaldehyde was used. By reducing pesticide use, you can actively encourage birds back into your outdoor spaces, as they rely on invertebrates such as slugs and snails as natural prey.

To see where the moon melts over the garden,or where the bats flit, or where the air sweetens with pollen and moth-frenzy, I recommend a night walk to discern the perfect patch for it. Under this glow, we could all use a distraction-dig with a silver shovel and choose colors that swoon and moan under our satellite: dusty pinks, baby blue, lavender, white, and butter yellow gems unfurl at dusk until dawn.

Starting plants from seed extends your relationship with the garden, gives you more control over seed sourcing, and saves real money compared to buying nursery starts, sometimes as much as 90% per plant.