The Science Behind Nature - in Layperson Speak
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)
With the drought in the west and the growing appreciation for natives and other drought-tolerant landscapes, I'm writing some articles for our local paper - here is the link to the first one that explains why, here's the second on the planning process, and here's the last one on plant selection. I …
Continue Reading about Converting Lawns to Waterwise Landscapes: So CA examples
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
Our yard is alive with wildlife this spring, so thought I would post some photos of the critters and a few native plants they're especially attracted to. The insects attract a host of larger insects and in the chain of life, they in turn attract a rich bird and lizard population that feeds on them …
