Just before Thanksgiving, my sister was cutting some fresh herbs from her garden for Thanksgiving. Her small, south facing back yard has a solid fence around it creating a perfect “microclimate.” A ...

The secret to a thriving garden is not fighting the regional climate but rather grasping the “Grand Master” of design: ...

Ever wondered why certain streets feel a few degrees warmer or why a random hillside stays foggy while the valley below bakes under sun? These are microclimates, and they're way stranger than most ...

We’ve all fallen in love with a plant, carefully placing it in the garden… and then watched it struggle like it’s been dropped on the wrong planet. It’s not always your gardening skills to blame.

Anyone who spends time in Napa Valley learns that the valley gets hotter in summer or colder in winter as you head toward Calistoga. The difference can be as much as 20 degrees. The southern part of ...

Whether you are starting a garden from scratch or planning improvements to an existing garden, it’s a good time to consider the merits of Mediterranean-climate gardening. This style of gardening works ...