Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft is a national authority on drought-resistant gardening. Twice a month she and her staff share their knowledge with readers. Q: I read about the Acacia caven tree in the ...

In brief, it describes the transformation of a vast, barren expanse of land at the foot of the French Alps into a lush ...

Q: The two huge bushes of tree aloe (Aloe arborescens) in my new backyard are ending their spectacular winter blooming season. What's the best way to ensure their continuing health? Do I prune them or ...

THIS WINTER we got walloped with many a dark sky and big rains that muddied our shoes and dampened our moods. But with spring at hand, it’s time to brighten things up by planting some of the best late ...

Succulents have soared in popularity recently because they’re drought-tolerant, easy-care and just plain cool to look at, and now there’s another compelling reason to grow them: They’re fire-retardant ...

Q:I have a gorgeous and quite large aloe (about 5 by 5 feet) that is very happy in its current spot. I live in San Mateo County. We are going to be remodeling, so it needs to be moved, and I don't ...