Monday, February 15, 2010
Grand Prize Award!
I am proud to announce that a project of ours has been awarded a Grand Prize in the Landscape Recognition Program of the Cucamonga Valley Water District. Photos of this project can be seen on our website, http://www.clementslandscape.com/. A tour of this garden at 8089 Gardenia Ave in Alta Loma and the other winning gardens will be held on April 24. I will be there to answer questions and hand out information sheets on the plants used in the garden. Please stop by to see these colorful and drought tolerant plants!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
In praise of parsley and other small wonders
I try not to overlook the obvious in favor of the exotic, and two common garden plants are deserving of more attention.
One of them is Flat Leaf Italian Parsley. This may be the perfect herb- tasty, goes well with almost any cuisine, tidy and tough. In the coldest part of the year it is going strong with rich green glossy leaves that snap with flavor. I harvest stems about 9" long, aiming for the longer branches to keep the plant a nice rounded shape.
After rinsing the whole bunch I put the sprigs in a water glass to serve as an edible bouquet. The cuttings stay fresh and tasty for at least ten days (the longest I've ever gone without using them). They are a great breath freshener and I like to grab a few leaves to chew as I wander by.
Yesterday I was out walking past a field where Alyssum had gone wild, covering the ground with cotton ball like blooms and perfuming the air with the rich scent of honey. These common bedding plants are loved by bees and are happy in almost any circumstance. They are small enough to tuck into areas between other plants that need time to grow in, and also do great in containers. They will trail a little over pot rims and walkway edges and add a nice informal feeling. It does get worn looking in late summer; some people pull it out or cut it back. If you leave it, it will self-sow and you'll get a crop of seedlings to continue with.
I admit that I do get excited about new varieties, and even plants that are just new to me. I love to look over new introductions (a variegated leaf will always get my attention). However, I also believe that tried and true has its place, and that place is in the garden.
One of them is Flat Leaf Italian Parsley. This may be the perfect herb- tasty, goes well with almost any cuisine, tidy and tough. In the coldest part of the year it is going strong with rich green glossy leaves that snap with flavor. I harvest stems about 9" long, aiming for the longer branches to keep the plant a nice rounded shape.
Yesterday I was out walking past a field where Alyssum had gone wild, covering the ground with cotton ball like blooms and perfuming the air with the rich scent of honey. These common bedding plants are loved by bees and are happy in almost any circumstance. They are small enough to tuck into areas between other plants that need time to grow in, and also do great in containers. They will trail a little over pot rims and walkway edges and add a nice informal feeling. It does get worn looking in late summer; some people pull it out or cut it back. If you leave it, it will self-sow and you'll get a crop of seedlings to continue with.
I admit that I do get excited about new varieties, and even plants that are just new to me. I love to look over new introductions (a variegated leaf will always get my attention). However, I also believe that tried and true has its place, and that place is in the garden.
Friday, January 29, 2010
A Walk in the Park
My trip to Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens yesterday was even more than I had hoped. For years (20+) I've been strolling the paths at RSABG and each visit brings new revelations.
This latest visit, somewhere in the gap between winter and our early southern spring, featured leaf buds like lime green candle flames on the naked white Buckeye branches.
The Manzanitas were already massed with tiny perfect blooms that encourage close ups and bees.
Ribes (one of my favorites - the combination of wild thorny branches and improbably delicate flowers is enchanting) are in flower. Some have thin separate threads of wine red along the length of arched spiny stems, others are more ladylike with flower clusters that remind me of Victorian tassels and stems that are more upright than twiny.
Mimulus, another favorite of mine, was showing off blooms of apricot, pink and burgundy. Mimulus (or Monkey Flower as it is commonly known) is a nice garden friendly plant that blooms almost all year and has gotten popular recently. I still get a kick out of seeing these "backyard" names at big box garden centers.
Ribes (one of my favorites - the combination of wild thorny branches and improbably delicate flowers is enchanting) are in flower. Some have thin separate threads of wine red along the length of arched spiny stems, others are more ladylike with flower clusters that remind me of Victorian tassels and stems that are more upright than twiny.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The New Lawn
The new California lawn is smaller and smarter, reflecting the shift in our thinking from “go big” to “go green”. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 44% of all residential water used in California goes into our landscapes. With water rates rising and water levels dropping, reducing the amount of water we pour onto our lawns is the logical thing to do.
While some people are ready to do away with their lawns entirely, many people want to keep some amount of sod. You can still have a great looking lawn without a huge area of grass, the trick is to make it seem like a larger area by using some techniques like these:
Widen the borders and use sweeping arcs and curves, the eye slows down to follow these lazy lines and the space will seem larger. Filling the border with colorful native and drought tolerant plants adds extra water savings, many of these plants also provide forage for native birds and insects.
Eat up some more of the lawn by placing an island planter in the middle, and if you plant a tree you will also benefit from the shade. Include a sculpture or an interesting boulder; add dramatic lighting and suddenly your lawn has gone from something only your gardener appreciates to an inviting space filled with color and personality.
While some people are ready to do away with their lawns entirely, many people want to keep some amount of sod. You can still have a great looking lawn without a huge area of grass, the trick is to make it seem like a larger area by using some techniques like these:
Widen the borders and use sweeping arcs and curves, the eye slows down to follow these lazy lines and the space will seem larger. Filling the border with colorful native and drought tolerant plants adds extra water savings, many of these plants also provide forage for native birds and insects.
Eat up some more of the lawn by placing an island planter in the middle, and if you plant a tree you will also benefit from the shade. Include a sculpture or an interesting boulder; add dramatic lighting and suddenly your lawn has gone from something only your gardener appreciates to an inviting space filled with color and personality.
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