Sierra Foothill Garden

Last Fall I decided to rid an area of weeds and grow a California native and hand-sown
 meadow. Here is the end of the season story and evaluation.

Stomping the Meadow

Ever since the meadow started growing, I’ve been thinking in advance, for when the ‘off season’ came.  It’s here, and the meadow is dry and golden.  I love my meadow, even in this stage… I like the look of it and how the seed heads are forming and the afternoon light coming through it.

When I thought of fall in the meadow, I planned on having Tractor Man use the weedeater to neaten up the area , but now I’ve changed my mind. While walking through the meadow and watering the still green Muhly grass, the Blue flax and the Yarrow, I noticed that the dry grasses and tall seed heads of the Globe Gilia could easily be flattened as I stepped on it.  I stepped a little more and thought why not just flatten it out by ‘foot’?

The weedeater and its ‘operator’ would not be as discriminating as the ‘sower of the meadow.’   Everything would go flying brown and green alike. Plus, less work for ‘someone.’  That is what I did then. 

Future plans:

• I will have to wait to see how many seeds will sprout from the mix sown a year ago. to complete the experiment, I won’t sow frAbout Sierra Foothill Gardenesh seed there this fall, but wait and see.
• I plan to sow fresh seed in a wildflower border along one of the paths. Three to four feet wide will hopefully add some color and spread more native seed in the garden area.
• I do plan to carefully rake a bit of the ‘straw’ left on the ground of the meadow and lay it down, seeds and all, in this planned ‘border’ area of the garden.  I also plan to sow some native Rudbeckia hirta along with it.
• I’ve saved the seed of the tallest Globe Gilia to also be sown in that area.

Evaluation:
A CA Native seeded meadow is possible.
It takes some weeding.
Bare spots happen.
Seeds wash down hill sprout where they can.
Meadows need a little water.
Meadows can fit into a garden with perennials.
Meadows are so enjoyable for months of the year.

Planning to sow a meadow this Fall? Catch up on how I did mine!  Super fun!

The Meadow project, month by month
What am I really doing in the garden in October?  Planning and removing weeds
Do you dream of a natural and beautiful wildflower meadow?  Finding and sowing seeding
Let’s check for progress on the meadow!  Weeding and watching the weather
How to weed a meadow in the Sierra Foothills  More weeding…letting the sprouts thrive
Let’s check on Fall and Winter projects!  Identifying seedlings
The wildflower meadow in May   Small triumphs
My California native meadow in June  Starting to bloom
The midsummer meadow  The peak bloom
Stomping down the Autumn meadow  Neatening up
Native California meadow in the second year

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