Relaxing in the Garden

Common name:Pacific Wax Myrtle
Botanical name:Myrica californica

This large shrub/tree can reach 30' tall and has glossy, dark green leaves with purple nutlets that attract birds. Used very effectively as a screen.

Common name:Needle Grass
Botanical name:Stipa pulchra

The needle grass is a cool season bunchgrass that grows 1-2 ft. tall with graceful, shiny flower stalks that reach 30 in. long in the spring. This grass is fire retardant, tolerates drought, and is good in mass plantings and restoration uses. The needle grass is California's State Grass and is a beneficial insect plant. -Cornflower Farms

Common name:Sticky Monkey Flower
Botanical name:Mimulus aurantiacus

Sticky Monkey Flower is a drought tolerant evergreen shrub 4 ft. ft tall with numerous orangish/yellow flowers in spring and summer. It is a California native that attracts hummingbirds. This shrub can be found on the dry hills and canyon slopes in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the central Coast Ranges. -Cornflower Farms

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 name:Douglas Iris
Botanical name:Iris douglasiana

Douglas iris is an evergreen perennial for shade or partial sun with blue-violet spring flowers. It is a California native that is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms

Common name:Berkeley Sedge
Botanical name:Carex divulsa

A fast growing vibrant green clumping sedge to 2' tall and wide. Widely adaptable, can be planted in wet soil or arid soil, tolerates sun to partial shade and can be drought tolerant. Tan to brown flowers show in spring.

Common name:Blue Star Creeper, Isotoma
Botanical name:Pratia pedunculata

Laurentia fluviatilis has bright green, nearly stemless, 1/4" leaves. In late spring and summer, these form a backdrop for equally tiny, star-shaped pale blue flowers.

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:

Irrigate early in the morning and/or late in the evening to reduce water loss due to evaporation and wind drift.

Integrated Pest Management:

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