Valley-Wise Gardening

These are a few plants at the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden. This is a Valley-wise garden located in the UC Davis Arboretum.

Santa Barbara Ceanothus

 

   Ceanothus maritimus 'Valley Violet' is one of the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars. It is drought tolerant once established and grows 2 ft. high and 4 ft. wide. A wide array of pollinators are attracted to its flowers. I love this plant because it is compact, pretty, and will tolerate a variety of soils.

   

Happy New Year!!!

Enjoying a New Year celebration with the Hatamiya family.

Shopping for supplies at a Japanese market in Sacramento.

Succulents

A box of treasures. I found these beauties on a recent trip to Ventura, California. Who could pass up a Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' in a 4 inch container? 

Recycled Water-Wise Beach Garden

In my search for drought tolerant gardens ideas, I stumbled upon this beautiful garden on a recent trip to Monterey. The use of found or recycled items adds an unexpected element. What better to edge the beds than abalone shells and bottles?

The array of plants include Echium candicans - Pride of Madeira, Buxus, Pelargonium- Geranim, Stretlizia- Bird of Paradise, Lavendula and Rosmarinus.

UC Davis Arboretum

The UC Davis Arboretum is a fabulous place to visit for garden inspiration. I went there looking for full sun, low growing evergreen ideas and stumbled upon the white flower garden. Photos include Brugmansia, Iris, Rosa, Lamium and Zantedeschia

Many of the plants are labeled, and it is helpful to see them blooming and fully grown. I greatly admire the design restraint of the one color garden. The white garden is quite serene and captivating. After seeing it, I am inspired to design a purple and white garden for my front yard.

California Native Blooming Trees

With a mature height of 15 feet, the Western Redbud (Crrcis occidentalis) is a perfectly sized back yard tree. A spring blooming California native plant that attracts native bees, butterflies and birds to your garden. 

I inherited this beautiful tree when I moved to my new house. It was a little neglected, but with pruning and fertilizer

It is looking beautiful this spring.