Here are eight jobs for the well-winter-prepped yard: Mulch acts like a blanket to keep the soil slightly warmer over winter, ...

During the spring and fall, when Marin County gets rain, slugs and snails are a constant presence in my West Marin garden.

They define one of the boundaries of my spring dreams, inspiring me with speckled Rembrandt varieties, Darwin hybrids with long-lasting flowers, many- headed tulips in pots, striped water-lily tulips ...