The amaryllis are in bloom at a much needed time: mid-summer, when flowers are scarce.
Category Archives: Sustainable design
R.I.P. big manzanita
Our Dr. Hurd manzanita has been in decline for three years, after growing vigorously from a small five gallon plant to a four foot tall shrub. Leaves in some stems began to look thin and dry. I started a bit of water in summer, just hand watering on cooler days. This seemed to help, forContinue reading “R.I.P. big manzanita”
Oenothera Hookeri: a wonderful “weed”
It reseeds, it’s tall, it’s got more leaves than flowers. Its flowers fall off as soon as the day warms. But it’s also a fantastic thing to watch as night deepens. After sunset, the buds begin to swell. The sepals crack apart, then flip open. The petals emerge like popcorn, their motion apparent as youContinue reading “Oenothera Hookeri: a wonderful “weed””
Bringing the ‘burbs to life
When we started, there were plants, a bird bath and bird feeders. The plants for the most part did nothing to feed the birds. Native insects likewise did not come here for fine dining.
With this makeover, that’s all changed. The bird bath is now a recirculating fountain. The bird feeders remain, but now there’s a veritable smorgasbord for visiting birds, with insects buzzing around a host of new native flowers.
The wildflowers are here!
With all the rains come lots of wildflowers. These are typical early spring wildflowers growing over much of Northern California. Most can be grown in gardens from seed, bulbs or plants… well, maybe not the poison oak… I don’t know which species all of these plants belong to. Maybe that’s good, since I can justContinue reading “The wildflowers are here!”
Urban patio
This urban garden connects to the city around it while entertaining guests and growing a few vegetables in the process.
Front yard living
There wasn’t much space for a patio in the back, the neighbors are friendly, so why not create a living space in the front yard? Hello, everyone! While adults dine on the deck, they can watch the kids play on swings under the tree. The wood is unstained sustainable Fijian mahogany, left to go grayContinue reading “Front yard living”
New Front Yard
Sometimes it just takes a bit of structure to pull everything together. This front yard remodel created a seating space, enhanced curb appeal and incidentally removed unused lawn that just wasted water. Nobody will miss it. One goal was to create a clear, inviting pedestrian entry separate from the driveway. The new route also happened toContinue reading “New Front Yard”
Here come the butterflies!
As the California asters come into bloom, flocks of butterflies stop by for a meal.
Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron sp.)
These California native shrubs create quite a show when in bloom, but they require a lot of room to spread. The benefit? They’ll grow without summer water, and actually don’t want any. These flannel bushes are growing in a field without irrigation, and this year they really seemed to appreciate all the rain they received.Continue reading “Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron sp.)”