Hotlinks:
ADD
Simple Pleasures
Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber
Western Redbud
Dr. Hurd Manzanita
Coast Redwood
California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Common Blue Fescue, Blue Fescuegras
Hummingbird Sage, Pitcher Sage
Common Yarrow, Milfoil
Rainbow Fescue
Kinnikinnick Bearberry
Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber

Common name:Strawberry Madrone, Marina Strawber
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage. -Monterey Bay Nursery

Western Redbud

Common name:Western Redbud
Botanical name:Cercis occidentalis

This deciduous shrub ranges from 6-20 ft. tall and 10-15 ft. wide. It is desirable for its magenta spring flowers, yellow to red fall color, and dangling winter seed pods. It is tolerant of many soil types, drought and oak root fungus. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The Western Redbud can be found statewide in California in the foothills below 4500 ft. elevations in chaparral and woodland communities - Cornflower Farms

Dr. Hurd Manzanita

Common name:Dr. Hurd Manzanita
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'

This is a large shrub with showy bark that reaches 8-20 ft. tall and wide. It has dark red bark, large pale green leaves, and white to pink flower clusters that bloom from Feb to March. - Cornflower Farms

Coast Redwood

Common name:Coast Redwood
Botanical name:Sequoia sempervirens

This fast-growing, aromatic tree has soft, dark green foliage with long needles appearing in flat sprays and brown, barrel-shaped cones that appear after 1 year. Its soft, red-brown bark is fiberous and furrowed. Particularly after mechanical damage, this tree will stump sprout to form new, young trees around the stump. Avoid planting in areas of high foot traffic.

California Poppy, Golden Poppy

Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica

This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue/green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.

Common Blue Fescue, Blue Fescuegras

Common name:Common Blue Fescue, Blue Fescuegras
Botanical name:Festuca glauca

This groundcover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue-green leaves.

Hummingbird Sage, Pitcher Sage

Common name:Hummingbird Sage, Pitcher Sage
Botanical name:Salvia spathacea

The extravagant leaves of this small clumping sage emit a perfectly sweet fragrance, which attracts hummingbirds. In the spring, the red/pink flowering spikes become a deep fuchsia. It is a great plant for dry shade.

Common Yarrow, Milfoil

Common name:Common Yarrow, Milfoil
Botanical name:Achillea millefolium

Highlighting this perennial are spreading mats of fern-like rosettes, along with deeply divided leaves of a green or grey green color. In this form, the flowers are usually a white tone. Stems can reach 2-3ft above foliage. The yarrow propagates easily from rooted cuttings or division, which should be performed in the early spring or fall. Following bloom, one should dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded.

Rainbow Fescue

Common name:Rainbow Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca amethystima 'Superba'

The rainbow fescue is a hardy fescue with fine blue green foliage that grows 8 in. It has spring flowers that are 12 in. above the foliage . This fescue is a very showy, neat grass for sunny spots during spring and fall. The rainbow fescue is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms

Kinnikinnick Bearberry

Common name:Kinnikinnick Bearberry
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

A hardy, creeping evergreen shrub, it grows 6-12" high and spreads as much as 10-12'. It has glossy green leathery leaves attached to dark brown branches. Its flowers are white to light pink in late winter and early spring; berries are bright red.

Designer: Liz Ryan

Simple Pleasures

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

Learn how to use the various features of your irrigation controller.

If you’ve lost the instruction manual for your irrigation timer, find and download a replacement from the Internet.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.