On one of my walks here in Southern California I pass a house where they’re removing the English Ivy that thickly carpeted the front landscape. I’m not sure what they’re going to replace it with but it has prompted this article on invasive groundcovers, grasses and shrubs and …
Plants for Bees: 12 month log of plants
I've been fishing up to a dozen bees - both European honeybees and native bees (Note: there are 1600 in California) - out of our pool the last few days (about 2/3rd survive if I make my rounds frequently) so I knew something was blooming in the vicinity. Yep, looking nearby, the loquats were in …
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Favorite Natives: Western Sycamore
Here in Redlands CA, ESRI employs 2000 and is a huge presence in our town. With hundreds of sycamore trees dotting ESRI’s campus, the tree is obviously a favorite of the company's founder, Jack Dangermond. “I like this tree. It makes people feel good when they are around them," says Dangermond. He …
Favorite So. California Native Plants
We had a garden club meeting in my town (Redlands CA) and were lucky to have as our speaker Bart O’Brien from the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (RSABG) in Claremont. He presented a wonderful talk about California native plants. More importantly, he shared his favorites for our area. These …
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Find a Native Plant Sale Near You
Readers outside California - please google 'native plant society' and your state -there should be a website and a list of plant sales. Fall through winter are the best times to plant natives because the roots have time to get established before the heat begins. Lucky for us consumers in Southern …
Favorite Natives: Salvias (Sages) for Aroma, Wildlife and Spectacular Flowers
Native California salvias (commonly called sages) make my favorite list for many reasons: their spectacular show of flowers spring through summer, their aroma that permeates the air, especially after rainfall. Also, the sages in our landscaping offer great wildlife habitat. I have photos of …
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