Comment

Comment by Morgan Vondrak on June 16, 2010 at 12:46pm

For those wanting a lusher year round look in 100% native gardens it is also highly recommended to use a strong base of evergreen natives (vs. using mostly flowering perennials). Baccharis pilularis, Manzanitas, Ceanothus, Coffeeberry, Garrya, Mahonia, and Ribes viburnifolium among others are all wonderful evergreen natives that give a lush look year round. There are also several grasses (Canyon Prince Wild Rye, Deer Grass, and Patrick's Point Fescue) that always seem to look good (with annual maintenence of course ;)
Here in San Diego, light supplemental overhead irrigation in the hotter areas does help prevent complete summer dormancy for most native perennials if that is the goal.

Comment by Jennifer Moore on June 14, 2010 at 12:58pm

Hello everyone. I am hoping to connect with people in the South Bay and Monterey Bay areas.

Comment by Geoffrey Katz on May 25, 2010 at 12:08pm

Glenn, and all
True that clients like to see green plants in the summer. Which is why some designers advocate a mix of native (80%) and non-native (20%) plants. The non-natives - which may require some summer water - stay green while the natives go summer brown.

Comment by Glenn Kranich on May 21, 2010 at 7:20am

Since many of our native plants go dormant in the summer as a survival technique to dry summers, I'm saying "advantageous for the summer-dry months" as it relates to the clients who prefer to see green plants and leaves still hanging onto their Buckeyes. Alternatively, Juncus, Western Sword Fern, and Iris, for instance, often receive summer water in the form of fog in summer in their native environments. Just my observations..

Comment by Geoffrey Katz on May 19, 2010 at 10:49pm

Glenn Do you really need to irrigate these plants that you mention in summer? They are native to N California, and so in a "natural" context do not get any summer water. Why would you need to irrigate them in a cultured situation?

Comment by Glenn Kranich on January 28, 2010 at 8:58pm

Ashley- In urban settings, supplemental irrigation is advantageous for the summer-dry months. Specifically, I've used inline subsurface drip. Quality growing medium like compost is important too, along with mycorrhizal fungi applications to help plants thrive through root establishment. Some native plant material I have used are: Juncus patens-Califronia Gray Rush, Deschampsia cespitosa -Tufted Hair Grass, Mimulus cardinalis-Scarlet Monnkey Flower, Iris Douglasiana-PC Iris, Mahonia repens-Creeping Mahonia), Polystichum munitum-Western Sword Fern, as well as a few non-natives. Best of luck in your efforts and I hope some of this helps.

Comment by ashley cruz on January 27, 2010 at 9:29pm

does anyone know how rain gardens thrive in the Bay Area? I am wondering because right now, its the rainy season, so everything is getting a lot of water - but when it is summer and dry, how do the plants in the rain garden get their water? What plants do you suggest putting in the rain garden?

Comment by Geoffrey Katz on January 25, 2010 at 3:49pm

Hello all
For those of you in the San Fran Bay Area registration for the tour of East Bay native plant gardens just opened. Went last year, will go again this year. www.BringingBacktheNatives.net

Comment by katrina on January 22, 2010 at 12:13pm

thank you for those recommendations!

Comment by Katharine Rudnyk on January 22, 2010 at 9:31am

Katrina,

Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) should work just fine for your purpose. Native to northern Mexico and Southern Arizona.

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