There is a packrat midden in Death Valley that contained fossilized remains of a cactus nearly twenty thousand years old. This proves that Opuntia basilaris was once far more plentiful around southern ...

Fall and early winter are excellent times to prevent insect problems that occur next year. I received reports of “worms” or grubs feeding now on the roots of plants. The most common are “white grubs” ...

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. Prickly pears (aka opuntias) have the widest ...

Q: I don't know what is on the beavertail cactus. It just appeared this summer. It's about seven years old and I've never seen this white stuff before. The cactus doesn't have a water source -- no ...

Photo by Jay Thesken California fishhook cactus (Mammillaria dioica) in full bloom. Photo by Jay Thesken Blooms of beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris). Photo by Jay Thesken Teddy-bear cholla (or ...

One of the easiest ways to compare the differences between the various types of cacti and to learn how plants survive on steep, rocky slopes is on the Cactus Loop Trail. A nature-trail guide, ...

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