This California native plant garden located in Menlo Park, California, and designed by L. A. Peluso Designs, has turned into a peaceful, park-like setting and features many favorites, such as Sunset Manzanita, Deer Grass, Salvia clevelandii, and Stickey Monkey.
Flagstone Path Meanders Through California Native Plant Garden, Menlo Park, CACalifornia Native Plant Garden, Menlo Park CACloseup of California Native Plant Muhlenbergia rigens, commonly known as Deer GrassCalifornia Natives Salvia, Deer Grass, Salvia clevelandii, Mimulus aurantiacus, Sunset Manzanita, Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ surround bird bathSunset Manzanita, Deer Grass, Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ Standard Tree Form
Tired of planting the “same-o, same-o flowers” for fall color? Mums are wonderful, it’s true, but how about a less thirsty change of pace? Try these California Native plants needing less water:
Helianthus annuus (Delta Sunflower or Common Sunflower)
Eriogonum giganteum (St. Catherine’s Lace) in the spring with a happy bee! And, below in the fall, a close-up of this buckwheat’s back side and rusty fall color. It turns pinkish in-between! I’ll have to remember to add that photo next year.
Helenium puberulum (Autumn Lollipop or Lollipop)* *Warning – Poisonous if ingested*
Bees flock to any of the above bloomers. Here is one now:
What are your favorite fall-blooming natives (California or otherwise)?
High expectations ~ instantly set while being bombarded by hundreds of picture-perfect garden images on media sites, when browsing through brilliant garden magazine photo shoots, and while watching gardens pop up in the blink of an eye on garden DIY shows. The realities, of course, are different. Gardens don’t have to be highly manicured or flawless to be successful and gratifying! Benjamin Vogt, owner of Monarch Gardens, explores ways to change our perspectives on maintaining naturalistic native gardens. Check out his article (in which I’m proud to be featured!) on Houzz.com here.