The Science Behind Nature - in Layperson Speak
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 …
Continue Reading about California Native Plants: Favorites of Two Residents
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 …
Continue Reading about Using low water native grasses for your lawn
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 …
Continue Reading about Favorite California Natives: Flannel Bush (Fremontia)
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 …
Continue Reading about Favorite Native Plants: Ceanothus (Wild lilac)
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 …
Continue Reading about California Native Plants with Summer Color
"One of the advantages of growing local native plants is that the plants from your immediate vicinity are well adapted to our climate's yearly fluctuations and can take those rare days with winter low temperatures and high temperatures in the sumners" - Bart O'Brien, RSABG Here in California …
Continue Reading about Seek Local Native Plants for Cold (and Hot) Tolerance
