Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—It’s amazing the new things you can learn by watching television sometimes. While watching season four of Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef” I discovered a new fruit, the kumquat.  Yes, it does have a funny name, and funny named fruits, veggies or dishes in general tend to scare people. While the kumquat may appear similar to the orange,...

UNITED STATES—In less than a few days the biggest feast of the entire year will be upon us, Thanksgiving. Last week we chatted about preparation or the big day, but it now dawns on many Americans, that turkey day 2020 will NOT be like those of the past. Why not? COVID-19 is the reason people. Rather you believe in...

Winter flowering cherry, flowering quince, witch hazel and forsythia are finishing bloom. Later types of flowering cherry and flowering quince bloom immediately afterward. Lilac, redbud and weigela bloom only slightly later. Flowering crabapple extends the season of such flashy early bloom. It is relatively easy to force any of these for even earlier bloom. Forcing is more popular where cool...

UNITED STATES—Potted plants can be a problem any time of the year. Some want more water than get. Most get too much water or do not drain adequately. Large plants get constricted roots if pots are too small. The roots of some plants get cooked in exposed pots that collect too much heat from sunlight. Besides, too many pots...

UNITED STATES—Your eyesight is so precious. Think of all the things you wouldn’t be able to do if you lost it, even partially. Yet, we do things every day that can damage our eyesight, and most of the time, we do these things without even thinking about it. This is why it’s good to know just what these bad...

UNITED STATES—Dormant pruning happens during winter, while the plants that benefit from it are dormant. Obviously, it would not be dormant pruning otherwise. Such processes are less stressful to plants while they are inactive and essentially anesthetized like a surgery patient. This is also why fresh bare root stock becomes available and ready for planting during winter. Bare root stock...

UNITED STATES—Exotic species are not native. It is that simple. There is nothing fancy about it. They came from elsewhere to live here. They are not necessarily rare, unusual or innately desirable. Most plant species within most refined landscapes and home gardens are exotic. Native species that inhabit unrefined areas, although trendy, remain unpopular for landscaping. Not only are exotic...

UNITED STATES—The majority of common pollinators are not impressed with blue. Otherwise, more flowers would be blue. After all, floral color appeals to pollinators. Each type of pollinator prefers specific colors. Plants customize their floral color to their preferred pollinators. If more flowers could attract more pollinators with true blue, they would do so. Instead, they rely on colors...

UNITED STATES—The act of giving makes us relevant. It could consist of giving money or food or kindness. Sadly, at this time of year giving is regimented and often done under duress, and it is all the more limited because giving gets pushed almost exclusively into the material realm. So there we are, dupes for technology toys and rushed generosity....

INGLEWOOD—The United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Rams and Andrew Whitworth are inviting Los Angeles County to WalkUnitedLA, a signature community family 5K walk/run to end poverty on Saturday, November 12, at SoFi Stadium. Spend your Saturday at the home of the Super Bowl Champions, for the second annual WalkUnitedLA, supporting United Way's efforts to break the...