I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles California. The climate is hot and dry in the summer, mild in the winter. Average rainfall is about 14 inches per year, if we are lucky. I’ve been an organic gardener since the age of 10. Currently I reside at the beach in Venice California and enjoy the mild, temperate climate that the ocean provides. Not too many places in the states where one can grow tomatoes, basil and gardenias through the month of December.

I’m pretty much a self-taught gardener. Got my first subscription to Organic Gardening when I was 11, and was unrelenting in my pursuit to grow new things. It wasn’t until 1995 that I got serious and graduated from the Los Angeles County/UCLA Master Gardner program, where I received extensive training while volunteering in local community gardens.

My name is Robert by the way, and I’ve taken several years off from gardening to pursue other interests. For a quick romp through the last two years of gardening, I’ve posted a photo gallery at Venice garden.

What is the most lavish gift you can give someone? Jewelry? A car maybe? Yes, those things are nice, but a living, breathing beautiful garden is even better. So if you’re a swell person, and I have the honor of your friendship, I just might surprise you when you get back from that long vacation.

Check out the frontyard garden I planted in May 2006 for my friend Sandra when she had her baby.

Last year, the kind folks at Folia inspired me to start a Flickr photo group dedicated to my growing region. You can catch a glimpse of it here, at Southern California Gardens.

Favorite gardening song this week (08/17) : “Taste the Summer” from the 2004 album Astronaut, by Duran Duran.