Did autumn come late this year, just as everything else arrived in advance? It’s been a warm year, and cooler temperatures were late to arrive, waiting until mid-November to put on the chill. With low temperatures finally hitting the high 30’s (high fives in celsius, more fun to say) the leaves flipped their color switchesContinue reading “Autumn in the Central Valley”
Category Archives: Plants
Flaming fall color
Staghorn sumac produces exceptional fall color, if you’re willing to chase down suckers and prune every year.
Lawn gone? These plants will spice up your new landscape!
We’ve been visiting Mountain States Nursery’s booths at conferences around the Southwest, everywhere but Sacramento, dreaming about exotic plant shapes, colorful flowers of all shapes and sizes to try back home… After concluding that getting their plants in Sacramento was basically Mission Impossible, we walked into our local landscape trade show to see a Mountain States booth.Continue reading “Lawn gone? These plants will spice up your new landscape!”
The meadow at it’s messiest: butterfly paradise
After summer’s growth, the asters have come into flower, bringing clouds of hungry butterflies. This is when the meadow is tallest, where it starts looking wild and unkempt. Asters arc in all directions, visited by multiple species of butterflies: skippers, buckeyes, blues, sulfurs… Beneath the asters, native goldenrod blooms following earlier waves of flowers nowContinue reading “The meadow at it’s messiest: butterfly paradise”
Gerberas, hydroponics and photo processing software
Those beautiful Transvaal Daisies you see in the florist probably didn’t grow in soil if they were produced in California. They’re cultivated in a special hydroponic growing medium, wetted regularly with a nutrient solution, and kept in the perfect conditions inside a greenhouse. The result is spectacular, at least until the flowers are harvested forContinue reading “Gerberas, hydroponics and photo processing software”
Five things to consider when removing your lawn
Removing lawn is a good thing if you live in an area where water is limited. You’ll save on your water bill, avoid breathing dust and smog from a mower and gain more color and interest. Here are some things to consider when removing your lawn to conserve water and create a more sustainable landscape.Continue reading “Five things to consider when removing your lawn”
Got Birds? How to bring nature back into your outdoor environment
Imagine every yard with at least some habitat designed in: food plants for bees and butterflies, berries for birds, a variety of plants for foraging. Looking at the typical suburb in a satellite photo, you might notice the dominant plant type: lawn. It might be a great place to play from time to time, butContinue reading “Got Birds? How to bring nature back into your outdoor environment”
Trimming time for the grasses & sedges
Time to trim the meadow: bringing the height down makes room for new growth and eliminates old dead stalks.
First ceanothus of the year! Valley Violet
Valley Violet ceanothus blooms at a time when flowers are scarce, bringing a blue-violet surprise to the winter garden.
Not just for the butterflies: California Dutchman’s Pipe
California Dutchman’s pipe vines flower in winter, feed caterpillars and are native to California. Interesting flowers, easy care and ecological benefits, all in one easy to grow plant!