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Emily Green

Emily Green is a science writer whose work has appeared in the UK Independent, Guardian, New Statesman, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and High Country News.

Palm trees on Figueroa Street south of 16th Street circa 1890. Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.

Palm trees on Figueroa Street south of 16th Street circa 1890. Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.

Lost LA

Water, Native Plants, and Southern California's Long History of Unsustainable Gardening

Nowhere else in the country have imported flora so overpowered the native.

Forget it, Jake: It's Cadiz

California's weirdest water project keeps getting weirder.

rod-cardella-7-23-15-thumb-630x420-95608

rod-cardella-7-23-15-thumb-630x420-95608

The Bottom Drops Out Part 2: Groundwater and the Valley

The U.S. Geological Survey has called the impact of Central Valley groundwater pumping "the largest human alteration of the Earth's surface."

delta-subsidence-7-17-15--thumb-630x420-95414

delta-subsidence-7-17-15--thumb-630x420-95414

The Bottom Drops Out: The Delta's Sinking Islands

To UC Davis' Jeffrey Mount, there are two types of levee. "Ones that have failed and ones that will fail." But Delta farmers say their levees are a third type: safe.

sacramento-river

sacramento-river

Are We There Yet? The Many Attempts and Failures to Fix the Bay Delta

To fix the Delta, Californians have created laws, dams, aqueducts, and are now weighing tunnels.

afterthelawnfinalslider

afterthelawnfinalslider

After the Lawn: Rebate Programs and Costs

Rebate programs and costs are considered for new Southern California gardens.

KCET-planting1

KCET-planting1

After the Lawn: Planting Your New Garden

When it comes to planting trees and shrubs, consider native plants.

Keep new plantings to a minimum. The illustration thins out the branches to reveal underlying landscape, not as a recommendation of bonsai treatments for canopies.

Keep new plantings to a minimum. The illustration thins out the branches to reveal underlying landscape, not as a recommendation of bonsai treatments for canopies.

After the Lawn: Assessing Your Garden's Water Needs

What actually does grow in Southern California? The short answer: Less.

greywater-1

greywater-1

After the Lawn: Greywater

Homeowners will have to find other sources to water their landscape other than the public's potable supply.

After the Lawn: Transitioning to an Integrated Rain Garden

A fully integrated rain garden allows gardeners to test their ideas for maintenance needs.

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