Articles by Debbie Arrington


Gardening the Grid

Midtown residents squeeze plants into tight spaces While gardening in Midtown, you never know what you’ll dig up. “These homes were built before they had…



Down on the farm

One place at the State Fair stays true to agricultural roots How does a kiwi grow? What do hops look like on the vine? Can…


Death on the track

Thoroughbred racing returns to California State Fair after a spate of fatalities California horse racing has a lot riding on what happens this summer in…


Field to vase

American Flowers Week promotes locally grown For Amanda Kitaura, it started with a bag of dahlia tubers from Costco. “I’ve always loved flowers,” she said….


Hot tomato

Sacramento has the sun and heat tomato plants crave. But how much is too much? Sacramento loves tomatoes. The feeling is mutual. Any Sacramentan with…




Gag order

Sacramento garden volunteers are being forced to sign a no-comment agreement A prickly situation has sprung up in Sacramento’s most famous rose garden. Volunteers at…


When it rains, it pours

Feeling soggy? With so much late spring rain, this has been an unusual month, bringing some surprises to local gardeners. With temperatures 10 degrees or…


Mistaken identity

Countless cases of mistaken identity this month got butterfly lovers excited. “With all the publicity given to the collapse of the California monarch population, I…


Succulents grow on you

More gardeners, young and old, are getting into fleshy water-wise plants known as succulents. They’re drawn by succulents’ sculptural good looks and ability to survive…


A fabulous stroll

A parade of moms, often with their children tagging along, will make its way through Sacramento’s Fabulous Forties neighborhood this coming weekend. It’s their treat….


Plant adaptations

A half century after hanging ferns and grape ivy seemed to decorate every California kitchen, houseplants are enjoying another moment in the sun. “There’s more…