All plants will burn. Some burn faster and hotter than others. Those that contain oil, sap, or resin ignite easily, burn intensely, and and make a fire worse. Those that contain water are fire-resistant, do not significantly contribute to the fuel, and can even slow advancing flames. Our garden’s rosemary swaths and neighboring plants epitomize… Read More Plants: Play it risky or safe?

Gravel, stone, and other hardscape don’t need water, which is a blessing in summer-dry gardens. They don’t need refreshing, which is a blessing for maintenance. And, as we found in the recent Thomas Fire, they don’t burn, which is a blessing in a fire. In a 2015 rationing-driven makeover, we replaced 42′ x 140′ of… Read More Hardscape: count its blessings

Our Thomas Fire experience revealed that water-smart and fire-smart are 2 peas in a pod. These past few years we implemented recommendations distilled from expert sources on how to protect your home from wildfire. But that was all in the abstract. Reality struck at daybreak on December 16, 2017 when what firefighters called a ‘fire… Read More Fire lessons learned

Fifty shades of gray – that was what I saw through my tears as I snapped photos of my gardens after the Thomas Fire. By comparison, photos I took the day before we evacuated were a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and textures, just like the ‘Latest Photos’ sidebar. Our 5-year transformation to water wise and… Read More 50 shades of gray after fire