Keystone plants and trees like the Coast Live Oak and California lilac are key players in the health of your garden.

Descanso Gardens, which is well-known for its wintertime flowers — queenly camellias do rule the La Cañada Flintridge garden ...

This shrub is flowering in pinkish violet ... of manzanita including ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Nearly all are native to California and many of them bloom in January.