2008 October — Garden of Native Plants

by Lorraine on October 31, 2008

This post is about last June, so hang in there reading it, as I’m catching up to the present. Gardening with California Native plants has been such a pleasure and everyday I’m observing the garden and looking at it as it develops and grows.

As we head into Summer (it’s now June) and eventually higher temperatures, the garden will be tested to see how well it does. It will need to have supplementary irrigation but at the same time, I have to be very careful that the plants are not over watered or I can end up killing them due to root rot.

Bart said it’s best to just “eye ball” the plants and see which ones might be struggling with stress and be sure to give any plants that look like they are having any difficulties, extra water.

CA. Native Plants in June

Having this new garden is quite a learning experience for me, since native plants are totally different in their requirements to grow and thrive. But it’s a lot easier than maintaining a big lawn with big water bills and having to maintain it to keep it green and healthy.

I love my garden and everything about it. Now it’s just getting through the first Summer.

sespe62@gmail.com

Native Plants and the Passing of a Woolly Blue Curl

by Lorraine on October 29, 2008

I’ve really been fortunate that I haven’t had too many plants die in the first year since I started my native plant garden. One of my favorite plants is the Woolly Blue Curl ( trichostma lanatum) and several where planted last winter in the garden.

Apparently they can be a bit touchy and delicate when they are first planted and you have to be cautious about how they are handled during the process. But once they start to die, there’s nothing that can be done about it, they just spiral down until they are dead. Darn!

I just had one die and looking at it this morning I know that I will be pulling it out but at least it bloomed through most of the year and did very well. Nope! Believe it or not, I don’t have a picture to show you but they are quite beautiful with long stems covered in rounded, soft, velvety or woolly flowers.

Here’s a picture of Biscuit, doing his impersonation of Count Dracula. He won’t be wearing a cape as part of his costume or asking for candy but possibly he will begging for his favorite cat treat made from tuna!