About the author

Claire Splan

<p><strong>Claire Splan</strong>&nbsp;is&nbsp;the author of <em>California Month-by-Month Gardening, </em>which received a Silver Award of Achievement in writing from the Garden Writers Association, and <em>California Fruit and Vegetable Gardening</em>, both published by Cool Springs Press. Claire began her garden writing career by blogging about her growing interest in gardening and environmental issues at her garden blog &ldquo;An Alameda Garden&rdquo; (www.alamedagarden.blogspot.com). A member of the Garden Writers Association, Claire has written for several garden-related websites and done presentations at the San Francisco Flower &amp; Garden Show, the UC Botanical Garden, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, the Southern California Spring Garden Show, and numerous garden clubs and other venues. She has also been interviewed on radio shows such as &ldquo;GardenLife,&rdquo; &ldquo;Bob Tanem in the Garden,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Gardening Today.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Claire lives and gardens in Alameda, California, with two under-gardeners&mdash;a cat named Linus and a dog named Roxie.</p>