WIld Ginger (Asarum caudatum) having a tough establishment period

Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) is a California native that grows under redwood trees in coastal valleys. This alone should have given me pause before planting it here in the Central Valley, yet I was told that it does grow here. I was letting it go fairly dry between waterings, since it is a native plantContinue reading “WIld Ginger (Asarum caudatum) having a tough establishment period”

Fastest flowers in the West

Remember watching those nature movies when you were small? Where spring comes to someplace, and the flowers all open with time lapse photography? Well, this flower looks just like that, except that no time lapse photography is required. The sepals were moving so fast that they’re blurred once the first flower starts to open! ThisContinue reading “Fastest flowers in the West”

Penstemon!

Our penstemons are swinging into full bloom, and providing a nice bit of color to fill in for the departing blue-eyed grass. Native bees visit the flowers, as do hummingbirds. The plants don’t need much, if any, water – depending on the species they’re bred from. Penstemon spectabilis should thrive with no additional water; MargueritaContinue reading “Penstemon!”