You may be inspired to pet some of the furry ones, stroking plush, spotted tips and scalloped edges while holding them close. The brightly plumed, spiky ones may prompt you to recall your coral reef ...

• Start seeds of spring and summer vegetables: beets, broccoli, chard, carrots, squash, tomato, peppers, watermelon, pumpkins, and others. Use the pots you sterilized for this purpose last month. • ...

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. Plants in the Protea family are admired as cut ...