Lawn (lon) noun. A usually closely mown plot or area planted with grass or similar plants. [variant of obsolete laund, from Middle English launde, lawnde, from Old French launde, heath]

Heath (heeth) noun. 1. Any of various usually low-growing shrubs of the genus Erica and related genera, native to the Old World, having small, evergreen leaves and small, urn-shaped pink or purplish flowers. 2. An extensive tract of open, uncultivated land covered with such shrubs or similar plants; a moor.

Moor (moor) noun. A broad tract of open land, often high but poorly drained, with patches of heath and peat bogs.

At what point of history did a lawn become defined solely as closely cropped green turf grass? Was it originally to walk on? Was it developed at the time we domesticated animals such as cows, horses, and sheep that fed on grasses? Was it for lawn bowling, golf, or cricket?

"True" grasses include not only what we now know as lawn grass, but also cereal grains, as well as those grains grown as ornamental garden grasses. Bamboo is also in this category. Over the years, the meaning of grass has expanded to include a wide range of plants with narrow to strap-like leaves. This group includes rushes, sedges, liriopes, flax (phormium) and cattails.

Today, we also have an even greater list of plants that can be used instead of a turf grass. We call them "lawn substitutes" when they are used in this fashion. All of these plants, as well as the grasses listed above, can be members of your gardens--functioning in a decorative way and complementing other plantings.

There are many reasons to consider alternative plants in place of a regularly mown lawn: too much shade, too little water, too much water, a preference for alternative ground covers, a preference for alternative grasses, and especially the regular mowing. There are many beautiful options available today. For example, a number of no-mow ornamental grasses can be used in hard-to-mow areas, or even in a large area, if you like a natural look.

There are many lawn substitutes to choose from, depending upon your needs and requirements. The choices increase if you have areas with very little foot traffic. Use substitutes in combination with each other by placing the most traffic-tolerant plants in the heaviest foot traffic areas. Add in some of the many ornamental grasses for a bit of height.

Many plants besides the usual lawn grasses will tolerate foot traffic. Varieties of cerastium, chamomile, leptinella, pratia, sagina, silene, and thyme are all examples of ground covers that take some foot traffic and would be beautiful lawn substitutes. Some of these flower; others release a wonderful fragrance with each step. Some, like thyme, do both.

Today, more and more people are bringing back a more natural look to their yards and gardens. Many areas of the country are working hard to maintain and reestablish the native plant habitats. You can join in this passionate evolution of gardens. Remember, until recent years, grass meant only a "lawn," green and mown. There are now many alternatives to that bowling lawn look. Enjoy seeking out and planting your new lawn substitutes.

Most gardeners love a colorful garden filled with blooming annuals, but many don't realize that a colorful garden can also smell good! In addition to filling your garden with wonderful scents to tickle your nose, fragrant annuals provide the added benefit of attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and other beneficial insects that help control bad bugs.

You can build a fragrance garden by creating a layered effect with shorter annuals in the front and gradually increasing the height to the back of the bed. If you are planting a garden island, start with the taller varieties in the center and lower the height of plantings as you work towards the outer edge.

For border plants on the outside, consider alyssum, dianthus, petunia, dwarf sweet peas and viola. Now add a layer of mid-size bloomers (1-2') such as cornflower, linaria, nasturtium, nicotiana, annual phlox, stock and wallflower. Next come the tall guys, like cleome, four o'clock, and tall sweet pea varieties. If you have room on a fence at the back of a bed, you can also plant the fragrant moonflower vine.

Shaded areas don't have to go neglected for fragrance either. Alyssum will still bloom well provided you have full morning sun, as will dianthus, linaria and viola. For shade gardens, nothing beats heliotrope, and some varieties of impatiens are moderately fragrant as well.

So remember, your flowerbeds can smell good as well as look good!

Do you have a large garden with two much open space? Tired of mowing all that lawn? Perhaps you want to add some personality to your garden? If so, a garden island might be just the solution your garden needs.

Designed and planted correctly, garden islands (whether mounded or not) can add a focal point that can be seen from all parts of the yard. The key is to use plants that will be in correct proportion to the overall size of the island. The other design aspect to keep in mind is that the entire island needs to flow away from the center (high to low) in all directions.

To mound or not to mound? Creating a mound will add contour and visual dimension to your garden but it also can create potential watering challenges to your garden. Plants on the top of the mound tend to dry out faster while plants along the bottom can become over-saturated from water draining off the top. If you go the mound route, a drip irrigation system is recommended.

Start by selecting a centerpiece that will be the focal point of your garden island. If you are working with a large area in a large garden this should be a small tree that is either contorted branching, multi-stemmed or fountainous branching in nature. A good choice for contortion would be Corylus Contorta or a blue Atlantic cedar. For multi-stemmed consider a crape myrtle, a flowering magnolia or an upright Japanese maple. If a fountainous centerpiece appeals to you, consider a weeping cherry, crabapple, or a wisteria tree.

If you have a smaller mound or island area consider a smaller focal centerpiece such as a butterfly bush, breath of heaven, phormium, dwarf crape myrtle, lion's tail, fringe flower or a tall grass such as feather grass, fountain grass or maiden grass. On a larger island these same (second tier) plants will add structure and definition, flowing away from the centerpiece.

Now you need to add low-growing mounding "filler" plants that will add not only more contour but also color to the island. The key is to select plants that stay below 2 feet in height so they allow the taller plants to stand out. Leave some space between plants so your island doesn't become too crowded. Consider boronia, breath of heaven, dwarf cotoneaster, dwarf escallonia, dwarf heavenly bamboo, rhaphiolepis, spirea, or yaupon holly.

Finally, consider a few low perennials with spiking flowers for that extra splash of seasonal color. Good choices include agapanthus, daylily, heuchera, penstemon, salvia and veronica. Fill in any other open areas with tough ground cover perennials such as creeping phlox or thyme.

As you lay out your plants just keep in mind the need for balance on all sides of your island. We have a great selection of plants and trees just perfect for your new garden island centerpiece and our staff of nursery experts will be happy to help you make your selections.

To help you plan, just click on this link for a photo gallery of some of our favorites.

Prized by gardeners for their beauty in the landscape and by flower collectors who proudly display their colorful blooms in elaborate crystal bowls, Camellia japonicas are enjoying renewed popularity across the world. Their classic-shaped flowers herald the spring, and each year new hybrid varieties are introduced to delight collectors everywhere.

Camellias were first introduced from Asia to the West in the early 18th century by a Jesuit priest named George Karl Kamel, from whose name camellia is derived. Since then, plant hunters have been searching for camellia species growing wild in China, Japan and throughout the Pacific Rim. Growers then take these new plants and use them to create new hybrids for the home landscape.

Because camellias are evergreen, they not only make for great focal points in the garden but also can also decorate a deck or patio in containers. They are so versatile they can even be trained on a trellis as an alternative to a shade-tolerant vine. The classic flowers range in shape from loosely petaled double blooms to peony-shaped and more layered formal blooms. The 3-5" blooms are found in colors including white, shades of coral, pink and red, along with many variegated colors. Some varieties are also fragrant.

Unlike their sun-tolerant, winter-blooming sasanqua cousins, japonica camellias prefer filtered shade and bloom from March until June--depending on the local climate. Most grow 6-8' high and wide, and can get even taller with age if not pruned. They also prefer well-amended, fast-draining soil so water doesn't accumulate in their root zones. They prefer to be kept moist--but become drought-tolerant once established.

Camellias require little fertilizer. We recommend waiting until the plants have finished blooming before giving them their first feeding of the year. After flowering, wait for new growth to appear at the ends of branches and then feed every two months with cottonseed meal or an organic acid food through the end of September.

It's the perfect time to see our camellias in all of their spring-blooming glory. We promise you will enjoy their spectacular flowers. But be warned, growing camellias and enjoying their flowers can be addictive!

Can I grow basil and other herbs from cuttings?

Answer:

You can take cuttings any time that the mother plants are still actively growing and healthy. Always use a shallow (less than 3 inches deep) container that is new or has been sterilized with 1 part bleach to nine parts water.

We recommend indoor greenhouse trays that come with clear plastic covers.

Use a mixture of peat moss and sand or a seed starting mix like Gardner & Bloome Seed Starting Mix. Wet your mixture completely with lukewarm water. Always keep your soil moist, not soggy, so the new plant roots have oxygen. Select new stems and prune no more than 3 inches. Strip the leaves off the bottom half of the cutting with your fingers. Make a final angled cut (at a former leaf node) so more of the stem will be exposed to root.

Use a pencil to make holes in the soil. Dip the cut end of your cutting into rooting hormone and place in the hole, firming the mix around your cutting. (There should be no leaves touching the mix.) Mist your cutting a few times daily to keep it moist and cover with plastic or a mini greenhouse cover to keep it humid.

Place your pots or trays in a warm location where soil temperatures can be maintained between 65 and 75 degrees. You can use a heating mat if needed, but check your soil moisture more often if one is used. When new growth resists when you gently tug on the plant, then it is ready for potting.

Matt was born and raised in San Jose (Almaden Valley). After graduating from high school, Matt left Almaden to attend Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, where he received a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, concentrating in Landscape Design.

Matt first worked as a foreman with a landscape maintenance company at the Stanford Research Institute and then at another retail nursery before joining Almaden in 1993. In July 2006, Matt and his wife Jeni purchased Almaden Valley Nursery. Matt is very active in the industry and has served as president of the local chapter of the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers and now serves on state boards for the same organization.

Matt has an extensive wine collection as well as rock 'n' roll art memorabilia. In his spare time he likes to go wine tasting with his wife Jeni and big game fishing with his friends in Mexico. Matt and Jeni have two boys--Ryan and Shane.

This week's featured recipe is from Shelley Milhous. This delicious dish was presented while on a picnic and made the perfect snack!

What You'll Need:

• 1 (8 ounce) tub soft cream cheese spread
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 5 or 6 burrito-sized flour tortillas
• 1 package of spinach leaves, stems removed
• 1 lb. deli roast beef, sliced thin
• 1 lb. finely shredded cheddar

Step by Step:

1. Combine cream cheese and horseradish in a bowl. Mix until smooth.

2. Spread about three tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on 1 tortilla. Place spinach leaves over the cream cheese. Place roast beef over the spinach and sprinkle with a layer of shredded cheese. Roll the tortilla tightly and wrap it up in clear plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate the wrapped rolls at least 4 hours. Can be made a day ahead.

3. To serve, just slice and eat. This can be used as an appetizer or a sandwich. It also travels well for picnics. Just throw the wraps in an ice chest and cut them up when you are ready to eat.