Sierra Foothills

What’s blooming in June

Here are the native and non-native flowers and plants that are blooming this month in my Sierra foothill garden. The…

13 years ago

Celebrate the Summer solstice

Welcome Summer! On the summer solstice which is today, the Northern Hemisphere receives more sunlight than on any other day…

13 years ago

Working quietly along with quail

Weeding the natural meadow I work quietly, allowing my thoughts to fade away into just being. I especially don’t think…

13 years ago

Euphorbia, drama queen of the Sierra foothill garden

 Euphorbia is one of the most diverse family of plants, with many different shapes, sizes and colors, from shrubs to…

13 years ago

Largus californicus, our love bugs

Bordered Plant Bug, Largus californicus These true bugs, those with sucking mouth parts, live in the Sierras of California, especially…

13 years ago

Lewis Creek: The Wildflowers

Lewis Creek is about 7 miles south of Yosemite National Park, CA. The trail all along it with the flowers,waterfalls and…

13 years ago

A profusion of Pretty Face

Pretty Face, Triteleia ixioides Sunny starry yellow, Pretty Face is sometimes called Golden brodiaea or Golden Stars, and is native…

14 years ago

Sitting…looking up at oaks

The Oaks of the Sierra foothills "I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again…

14 years ago

May Day bloomers and identifying new native plants

Recently identified, four CA natives on the property are  ‘new to me.’  If you read this blog very much, you know…

14 years ago

Lester Rowntree, hardy Californian

Why do they do it? Not for fortune or fame--few outside native plant circles know who they are.  People like Lester Rowntree,…

14 years ago

Foothill Penstemon, vivid and bright

It’s California Native Plant Week and I’m profiling a different California native each day that is on my particular wish…

14 years ago

Blue-eyed grass, native gem

It’s California Native Plant Week and I’m profiling a different California native each day that is on my particular wish list. …

14 years ago

California Buckeye, always one season ahead

... or, how I discovered Buckeye 'bulbs'. California Buckeye, Aesculus californica, is always ahead of the season,...first to leaf out in…

14 years ago

How Peckinpah Mountain got its name

After establishing our home on  Malum Ridge, looking out onto Peckinpah Mountain, I heard from neighbors about the  logging history in our…

14 years ago

Discovering and identifying the Oracle Oak

Discovering new natives I have always loved the names of plants. I don't know why, but I must know what a…

14 years ago

Firewise Landscaping in the Sierra Foothills

When landscaping in a fire risk area, like the Central Sierra foothills of California, you normally have to keep a…

14 years ago

Bike race down 007 trail

April 25-28 Wooden goat for the goat shed  We snuck up here on the flimsy excuse that a bike race…

23 years ago