Sessions contributed articles and letters to local newspapers over a span of five decades. Through a weekly gardening column and with other submissions, she aimed to educate others about the plants she found to be both entrancing and vital to the beautification of her adopted San Diego home. Sessions’ early journalistic presence brought her name recognition, helped to establish her florist and nursery business and built her reputation for horticultural expertise.
1891
Sessions, Kate O. “Rose Culture,” San Diego Union, June 9, 1891, 5.
Lecture notes from a Sessions presentation carefully detailing how to grow roses in San Diego and some of the best varieties to choose.
_______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 28, 1891, 6.
Joyful that a “cheap and bountiful water supply” had come to San Diego, Sessions makes several planting suggestions, including a lengthy explanation of growing poinsettias, which she hoped to see grown more commonly in San Diego.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 7, 1891, 2.
An expansive article on vines that flourish in San Diego, with locations where the vines can be seen in private gardens around town, including “the finest” orange bignonia growing in San Diego. While grown out-of-doors in San Diego, this vine needs the protection of a greenhouse in San Francisco.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 13, 1891, 5.
Sessions recalls seeing bougainvillea growing in Honolulu and recommends growing these “most conspicuous” vines in their own space as they can visually overwhelm other plants. Two varieties are described, along with where they can be seen in local gardens. More blooming bougainvillea in San Diego will delight visitors because the plant cannot be grown in most other areas of the country.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 20, 1891, 2.
Discusses various jasmine varieties and identifies a few San Diego gardens where different types can be seen.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 27, 1891, 5.
The palm Cocus plumosa deserves more attention in San Diego as it is hardy and one of the “most
decorative and lasting of plants in cultivation.” Sessions recommends planting it in April.
______. “Notes on Planting . . . Palms,” San Diego Union, August 3, 1891, 8.
Sessions recommends three palms for San Diego: Washingtonia filifera, Guadalupe Island palms, and Erythea armata, a blue fan palm.
______. “Notes on Planting . . . Palms,” San Diego Union, August 10, 1891, 5.
The palm Phoenix canariensis is described.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, August 17, 1891, 5.
The palms Seaforthia elegans and Seaforthia robusta are discussed, along with the recommendation that they be viewed at the Hotel Del Coronado.
_____. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, August 24, 1891, 2.
The Ficus or fig family is large and useful. Ficus elastica, the true Indian rubber tree, gives colors of dark green, russet and brown and is best for planting unless space is extensive. Sessions offers examples of Ficus plantings around San Diego.
______. “Notes on Planting . . . Magnolia Grandiflora,” San Diego Union, August 31, 1891, 5.
Sessions would like to see magnolia trees more generally grown in open areas.
______. “Notes on Planting . . . Araucaria,” San Diego Union, September 7, 1891, 2.
Sessions cautions that araucaria trees mature to a very large size.
______. “Notes on Planting . . . Araucaria, Continued,” San Diego Union, September 14, 1891, 2.
In a continuing discussion of araucaria trees, the “Monkey tree” [monkey puzzle] is featured. Just one of these unusual trees is growing in San Diego (at Fourth Avenue and Maple Street).
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, September 21, 1891, 2.
The Passiflora quadrangularis, a passion vine, grows very well in San Diego.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, September 28, 1891, 5.
Two Australian trees are described. San Diego has a particularly worthy specimen of Brachychiton acerfolia, the Australian flame tree that makes a spectacular show of bright and abundant red blooms. The Sterculias tree is also mentioned, but a specific species is not identified.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, October 5, 1891, 5.
Chrysanthemums are the subject.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, October 12, 1891, 5.
Sessions suggests winter bloomers, including poinsettia, lantana and red hibiscus.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, October 19, 1891, 8.
Continuing recommendations from her prior column, Sessions identifies more winter-blooming plants, including violets, marguerites and “Canadia alba.” [Cercis canadensis ‘Alba’].
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, November 16, 1891, 5.
Echeverias, violets and other recommendations for garden borders are offered.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, November 23, 1891, 5.
A book by G. H. Ellwanger is recommended. The Garden Story stresses the study of gardening soil, thick plantings, color harmony (no magenta!), and careful consideration of tree species and placement. Sessions includes a quotation from the work: “Show me a well-ordered garden and I will show you a genial home.”
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, December 14, 1891, 5.
Take a hint from the natural process of reseeding wildflowers, Sessions suggests, but give nature some help by cultivating annuals.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, December 21, 1891, 5.
The selection and placement of rose bushes requires deliberation in the same manner as the placement of trees in the garden.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, December 28, 1891, 2.
Methods for selecting and caring for sidewalk trees are followed by the observation that “a street planted on both sides its entire length with the same trees, no matter how common, is a thousand times more successfully ornamented than if promiscuously planted with the rarest trees in the world.”
1892
Sessions, Kate O. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, February 1, 1892, 8.
Two native shrubs are recommended: Romneya coulteria and Photinia arbutifolia, the “Christmas berry” which is being commercially cultivated at Smiley brothers in Redland.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, February 9, 1892, 5.
Few yards are too small for a vine arbor, Sessions contends, and vines will produce more shade in one year than a tree can provide in five. Simple supports are adequate and nature will do the decorating.
______. [Advertisement], San Diego Union, February 9, 1892, 5.
“Sweet pea seed. Fine Sorts. Planting time now. Miss K. O. Sessions”
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, February 22, 1892, 8.
Sessions offers a lesson on the care of roots while planting or transplanting and explains why some bareroot planting is possible.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, February 29, 1892, 5.
Which flowers bloom in the cool foggy weather of early Spring? Roman hyacinth, narcissus, daffodill (lending “grace and gayety”) and freesia, which Sessions describes as the least known of these plants in San Diego.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, March 14, 1892, 5.
Some San Diego gardeners planted the wrong acacias and now the entire acacia family is in disrepute among botanists., but some of the 400 kinds of acacia do extremely well here, including Acacia melanoxylon.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, March 21, 1892, 5.
“Whoever has too many roses?” Sessions asks in a discussion on training and pruning shrubs.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, March 28, 1892, 5.
Ipomeas, or morning glories, are glorious. Particularly recommended is the Mexican Blue.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, April 4, 1892, 2.
Climbing roses are the “queen of vines,” but have mildew problems. The ‘Reine Olga de Wurtemburg’ rose is fast making its mark on San Diego and is resistant to mildew..
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, April 11, 1892, 5.
The climbing white rose ‘La Marque’ is most common, but ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’ is recommended. Various homes where it can be seen in San Diego gardens are identified.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, April 25, 1892, 8.
In a rare tribute to a single gardener, Sessions recognized Mrs. W. J. Hunsaker of First Avenue at Juniper Street for having “one of the handsomest gardens in the city.”
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, May 2, 1892, 5.
Sessions identifies three roses that are excellent bloomers: ‘Duchesse de Brabant’, ‘Madam Lambard’, and Laurette [‘Madame Laurette Messimy’].
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, May 9, 1892, 8.
While San Diego does not match San Francisco as a climate for fuchsia, it is a favorite small shrub that can be grown in some local areas.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, May 31, 1892, 2.
Instruction on cultivating the Grevillea robusta tree is offered, along with the information that San Diego [likely Sessions herself] was supplying seed for this tree to the Eastern United States.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 6, 1892, 8.
Capt. Sweeney, residing on State Street, brought a collection of gladiolus from his former garden in Oakland. Sessions suggests a visit to see the blooming spikes and recommends growing methods.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 13, 1892, 2.
Sessions writes about the cultivation of smilax and calla lilies.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 20, 1892, 2.
A visit to National City shows that plans were wisely made for the planting of street trees along a newly graded street. Plentiful planting is possible due to the availability of city water. Magnolias are a popular choice. The garden of J.A. Rice is described, with special attention to his handsome Eastern elm tree.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 27, 1892, 2.
Sessions identifies several gardens in San Diego featuring aquatic plants, including the favorite water lilies.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 6, 1892, 5.
Sessions describes in detail “a simple insecticide” that will eliminate many garden pests without harming the plants being “debugged.” The insecticide is hot water and she offered the differing temperature levels needed to kill various pests, also commenting on the degrees of heat various plants can withstand. Always work with a thermometer when scalding insects, she advises.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 11, 1892, 5.
The Chinese shrub, Abelia rupenstris “promises to be a most excellent hedge plant on account of its low growth, glossy and fine foliage, freedom from scale or insect pest, and free flowing qualities.” Typically, Sessions tells readers something of the history of the plant, its growth habits and cultivation, and where it can be seen in bloom.
1895
______. The Cherokee of San Diego,” San Diego Union, March 25, 1895, 8.
“[W]ithout exception this is the most artistic of roses,” Sessions asserts, and the Cherokee rose is winning friends and being planted more and more in San Diego. Sessions mentioned San Diego homes where the featured plant was in cultivation.
1896
Sessions, Kate O. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, June 15, 1896, 2.
Sessions describes a jacaranda, the beautiful and handsome tree from Brazil, in bloom at the home of F. A. Weed, at Fir and Second Streets in San Diego.
______. “Notes on Planting,” San Diego Union, July 20, 1896, 2.
Eucalyptus ficifolia when blooming is beautiful and “a bounteous feast for honeybees.” Growing habits and advice on cultivation of the red-blooming tree are offered.
1897
[Advertisement], San Diego Union, November 21, 1897, 5.
This advertisement encouraged rose-growers to visit Sessions’ downtown shop: Miss K. O. Sessions advises everyone interested in planting roses this winter to begin looking over the varieties while they are now blooming. January and February are the best planting months. There are a few new and very excellent roses. Call for a list and see some good cut flowers. FIFTH AND C, opposite Marston’s.
1899
Sessions, Kate O. “Beautifying the Park–Suggestions from Miss Sessions,” San Diego Union, September 4, 1899, 3.
Printed text of a paper Sessions read at a Chamber of Commerce public meeting on improving City Park. She points out the unique San Diego climate, the success of growing imported plants here, and calls for the highest level of professional park planning, on a par with New York, Boston, Chicago, and other cities. She attempts to educate the public about the profession of landscape architecture. Finally, she argues that money spent on improving the park can be viewed as a good investment.
______. “The Chrysanthemum,” Pacific Rural Press, November 30, 1889, 275. [Original was not consulted. This reference is from a secondary citation.]
Sessions presented a paper on chrysanthemums to the Ladies Annex of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce as she planned and publicized the San Diego Chrysanthemum Show.
______. “Suggestions from Miss Sessions,” San Diego Weekly Union, September 7, 1889, 5.
A second printing of a paper Sessions presented at a Chamber of Commerce meeting on developing City Park (see Sept. 4, 1899). Sessions calls on citizens to use their imaginations to envision the park as a unique and beautiful civic asset.
1905
Sessions, Kate O. “Speaks with Authority; Proposed Changes at Date Street Park Entrance Would Destroy Value; Miss K. O. Sessions Hopes They Will Not Be Made; Plans Were Carefully Thought Out,” San Diego Union, May 29, 1905, 2.
In a letter to the newspaper, Sessions rails against those who would, without sufficient thought or expertise, undo the careful City Park design plans of landscape experts Parsons and Cooke. “These architects need encouragement and stimulating to their best efforts, not a tearing-down and destroying of their hardest thought-out details–because we are ignorant of their profession.”
______. “Flower Growing is Neglected Industry,” San Diego Union, October 16, 1923, 12.
Declaring local conditions idea, Sessions calls for more commercial floriculture in San Diego, noting that the current largest commercial flower growing was of poinsettias which were shipped all the way to Victoria, British Columbia.
1910
Sessions, Kate O. [Letter to Editor] “The People’s Forum: Miss Sessions Writes on Culture of Plants; Takes Exception to Statement Made in Union by ‘Yorick’,” San Diego Union, October 27, 1910, 8.
Sessions writes on plant cultivation, taking exception to the extravagant claim of the columnist “Yorick” who had previously written that every plant in the world could be grown in San Diego. While acknowledging that a wide variety of plants can indeed thrive in San Diego, she provides a nuanced explanation of the achievable plant diversity in local parks and gardens.
1925
Note: During an almost seven-months absence from San Diego, Sessions wrote a series of letters that were published serially in the San Diego Union newspaper. Her travelog is an observant tourist’s view of Europe, with a focus on horticultural sights and garden visits.
Sessions, Kate O. [Letter 1] “Miss Sessions, on European Trip, Gives U.S. Impressions,” March 22, 1925, 28.
Departing San Diego on February 21, 1925, Sessions describes her cross-country train trip, observing farms and bare winter trees and experiencing very cold weather. Meeting up with Samuel Dauchy in Chicago, she enjoys quick visits to the natural history museum and Art Institute before continuing on to New York where she calls on Dr. and Mrs. M. O. Terry, in residence at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. There is time for a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art before boarding her ship for a crossing to Europe.
_______. [Letter 2] “S.D. Plant Expert Writes Engagingly From Europe,” San Diego Union, April 27, 1925, 5.
Sessions describes her departure from New York harbor and the days of her ocean crossing. She enjoys the food and company on her Italian steamer and gives her first awed impressions of churches and scenery in Sicily.
_______. [Letter 3] “San Diego Traveler Writes From Quaint Adriatic Town,” San Diego Union, May 3, 1925, 11.
Sessions visits the extended family of her nursery employees in the small southern Italian town of Gioia del Colle, delivering letters and gifts. When taking her leave, at least 18 family members walked her to the train station. On the train to Naples she improbably encounters the son of long-time Santa Barbara nursery owner and Sessions business acquaintance, Francesco Franceschi (whose real surname was Fenzi).
_______. [Letter 4] “San Diego Woman, Touring Europe, Writes of Pretty Spots and Customs,” San Diego Union, May 10, 1925, 8.
Naples has “a charm and interest” she would always remember. Pompeii was most thrilling. “What a lesson those ancients give us in the durability and simplicity of their building.” A garden in Pompeii was so appealing she vowed to build one just like it after returning home.
_______. [Letter 5] “San Diego Traveler Recounts Interesting Sights in Rome,” San Diego Union, May 24, 1925, 22.
Seeing the city in the company of family friend “Mr. Miles,” Sessions commented on Roman engineering achievements, familiar tree species in city parks, and the magnificence of St Peter’s Cathedral. Mrs. Miles is referred to as her “fairy god-mother.,” [Meaning perhaps, one of the wealthy friends who helped fund her travel in Europe.]
_______. [Letter 6] “Writes Interestingly of Visit to St. Paul’s at Rome and to Church of St. Francis, Assisi,” San Diego Union, May 31, 1925, 32.
Entranced by the churches of Rome, Sessions writes in detail about art, architecture and stonework. She enjoyed the many flower sellers on the streets of Rome and was surprised by the size of the Tiber River. This letter moves on to Assisi where she admired the local pink building stone. Next, she travels to Florence and Perugia. Many trees and plants are commented upon.
_______. [Letter 7] “San Diegan Finds Beauties in Nature and Work of Man While Traveling in Italy,” San Diego Union, June 7, 1925, 57.
Perugia offers many attractions, including majolica ware. Sessions ordered several jars and vases of this pottery to be shipped to San Diego. Large cedar of Lebanon trees caught her attention as well as privet (Ligustrum japonica) grown as a tree rather than in a hedge or screen. Moving on she found much to admire in Siena and Florence.
_______. [Letter 8] “Interesting Parisian Scenes Are Detailed by San Diego Woman,” San Diego Union, June 14, 2025, 20.
Discovering the pleasures of walking in Paris, Sessions comments on various shops, and the delights of window shopping and people watching. She marvels at the number of florists and the abundance of flowers everywhere in the city. A street market offers some tempting items.
_______. [Letter 9] “San Diego Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, June 28, 1925, 20.
In the ninth letter of her series, Sessions writes of Rotterdam and Brussels where she was particularly impressed by Maes’ painting The Lacemaker. In The Hague she saw the new Palace of Peace and a number of Rembrandt paintings. The portrayal of the farmer’s figure and face in Paulus Potter’s The Bull caught her attention. In Leyden she enjoyed a personal tour of the botanical garden and agreed to establish a plant exchange.
_______. [Letter 10] “San Diego Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, July 5, 1925, 11.
From the Netherlands Sessions contrasts the working docks of Rotterdam with the city’s beautiful parks, handsome homes and private gardens. She makes a second trip to the Heemstede Floral Show in Groenendaal Park, near Haarlem. [A famous international flower show highlighting Dutch bulb cultivation.] At “Dalsmere” she sought the finest roses “grown anywhere” [correct name of the town is Aalsmeer, the historic center of rose growing in the Netherlands.] Very pleased with the beauty of the region, she ended her stay in Amsterdam, departing for England by ferry.
_______. [Letter 11] “American Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, July 19, 1925, 17.
Sessions checks into London’s Russel Square Hotel and enjoys a grand round of visits. She rides the underground to Kew Gardens, providing logistical details of boarding “the tube.” The history of Kew is recounted along with her impressions. She particularly enjoyed the display of Marianne North’s floral paintings. The Chelsea Flower Show’s quantity and quality of flowers deeply impressed her. She urges increased commercial floriculture development in San Diego.
________. [Unnumbered Letter] “San Diego Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, August 2, 1925, 12.
In France, Sessions enjoys seeing farm country and by pre-arrangement meets up with a California travel group that includes friends from Pomona. The group enjoys the noontime mechanical display of the Strasbourg Cathedral astronomical clock before moving on to Switzerland. Details of the attractive countryside and the charms of Lucerne conclude the letter.
________. [Unnumbered Letter] “San Diego Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, September 6, 1925, 29.
Charmed by the French Alps, Sessions writes of mountain vistas and alpine flowers. Moving on to Switzerland, she describes the “regal elegance” of the fir trees Picea excelsa [actually a spruce] in an Interlaken park, as well as a familiar California Sequoia gigantea.
_______. [Unnumbered Letter] “San Diego Woman Abroad,” San Diego Union, September 27, 1925, 11.
A trip from Paris to the Rivera elicits admiration of well-pruned trees growing alongside the roads paralleling the rail lines. At Biarritz she is met by Mrs. Bergin White, niece of Frank Garretson and formerly a San Diego resident. This resort city reminds Sessions of La Jolla. She describes the nearby Spanish resort of San Sebastian and the editorializes on the bull fighting there, commenting: “I wonder when such degrading sport will cease?”
1926
Sessions, Kate O. “Beauties of Honolulu Are Told By Miss K. O. Sessions in Letter,” San Diego Union, July 12, 1926, 9. Reprinted: California Garden [The Kate Sessions Issue] 44:3 (Autumn 1953): 13-16.
One of a series of letters Sessions wrote during her 1926 return trip to Hawaii (she first visited the Islands in 1876). She is the interested tourist, overcome by the beauty of Hawaii’s flowers and trees in the natural landscape and in cultivated gardens and plant nurseries.
______. “San Diego Woman Meets Many Former Residents of This City While on Visit to Hawaiian Islands,” San Diego Union, August 1, 1926, 2.
Sessions describes both natural and cultivated plants observed in Hawaii and finds many Island dwellers with a San Diego connection.
1930
Sessions, Kate O. [Letter to Editor] “Alterations in Existing Torrey Highway Favored,” San Diego Union, February 2, 1930, 21.
In a lengthy letter, Sessions suggests practical changes to an existing road that would negate the need for a proposed new coastal road routed directly through rare, old growth Torrey pine trees. Her views synced with those of George Marston and other city leaders who backed the League to Save Torrey Pines Park.
“Alstroemerias Are Cultivated in New Shades,” San Diego Union, July 20, 1930, 29.
In addition to the traditional yellow and orange shades of alstroemerias, seeds are now available that produce pink and red flowers.
1932
Sessions, Kate O. [Letter to Editor] “Horticulture Called Chief Charm of Park,” San Diego Union, August 29, 1932, 7.
In this letter to the editor, Sessions identifies the organ, zoo, and museums of Balboa Park as fine features, but points out that they do not lend uniqueness. Rather, it is the climate that allows daily enjoyment of the park and the cultivation of so many different varieties of trees, flowers, and shrubs that distinguish Balboa Park from other parks in the United States.
1934
Sessions, Kate O. “Acacias of Bush Type Worthy of Wider Use,” Los Angeles Times, Southland Homes and Garden, December 30, 1934, K2.
Sessions identifies the Baileyana as her favorite among the acacias. (An editorial note introduces Sessions as a horticulturist known all over the United States and in foreign lands.)
1938
Sessions, Kate O. “Plant Covers Entire Roof 3-Year Period,” San Diego Union, December 4, 1938, 9.
Sessions enthusiastically describes Convolvulus tuberrosa, a fast-growing vine with interesting foliage and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. A homeowner grew the plant from seed found in Hawaii. She calls this plant “one of the most important finds” she had made in San Diego.
Undated
Sessions, Kate O. “Floriculture: Great Variety of Plant and Floral Life,” Photocopy of newspaper article, no date, no publisher. Elizabeth MacPhail Papers, SDHS.
An intelligent essay on the geography and horticultural potential of San Diego, the new public attention to planting trees in the city, and the needless expanse incurred by over planting a garden instead of planning for its growth. [Unable to locate date and publisher of clipping.]