As for many in California, the numerous days of 100+ degree heat has been tough on our vegetable garden, roses, fruit trees and well, pretty much everything (including ourselves....) But we continue to have some plants – mostly California natives or their hybrids – that look good despite little …
California Native Plants: Favorites of Two Residents
Fall is the perfect time to be exploring and planning the purchases of California native choices, with lots of plant sales. So I checked in with some friends who over the last couple years have planted California natives - to get feedback on what's done well for them. It's challenging where we live …
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Using low water native grasses for your lawn
With our drought here in Southern California there is more talk of removing lawns and planting drought tolerant alternatives. We've done both - we took out most of our lawn and replaced it with mostly California native plants. (I've written a lot about our process - here's one) But we've also …
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Favorite California Natives: Flannel Bush (Fremontia)
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron) or fremontia is another favorite California native plant. And with its distaste for summer water once it's established, fremontia is a perfect solution for the drought times we seem to be going through here in the Southwest. Here is more info about this beautiful …
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Favorite Native Plants: Ceanothus (Wild lilac)
I realize I haven't written about ceanothus - commonly called wild lilac, which has been ablaze with its blue blooms lately. So here is another favorite, which has done really well on the two properties where we planted it. It's short-livedness is a rumor for us, and backed up by ceanothus in the …
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California Native Plants with Summer Color
Sure, they lower water bills and usher in more wildlife, but I admit it’s much easier to entice folks with the benefits of native plants in spring when the sages (salvias), wild lilacs (ceanothus) and many others are in full bloom. It’s a tougher argument in the hot summer through fall …
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