Half the year is over and in the garden I’m walking around taking stock. June usually means the real riotous bloom of the Iris, fruit trees and bulbs is dying down. Now the dry garden can be the spotlight. Our climate is very close to that of the Mediterranean. We can grow all the plants…
In early July, the meadow is at its peak and gives pleasure every day. Here are some of the advantages and realities of growing your own!
A CA Native seeded meadow is possible.
It takes some weeding.
The flowers are bright and grasses wave in the wind
Bare spots happen.
Seeds wash down hill sprout where they can.
Seeds spread where they can and more flowers pop up.
Meadows need little water and care if native seeds are used.
Meadows can fit into a garden with perennials.
Meadows are enjoyable for months of the year.
Meadow color in summer
2011-5-5 California native meadow in May, the ideal image in my head and now in reality!
July meadow
Meadow in May, poppies, bird’s eye gilia and tidytips mostly. Pacific fescue is blooming
All the wild color make the Brodiaea look subdued.
“Ah! How I long for the beautitude of a summer meadow-place
That calls me ever forward and slightly to the left
That begs of me to forget the stressful stresses of life.”
Past the peak bloom-late July
This late afternoon, while watering, I noticed the last strong rays of sun glinting on the seedheads of the meadow. In mid summer, the last of the California poppies and Globe gilia have done and are forming seeds. A few Clarkia amoena hang in and the yarrow is at its peak. The vulpia grasses are golden brown as they’ve been all last month.
A few Clarkia amoena hang in and the yarrow is at its peak. The vulpia grasses are golden brown as they’ve been all last month.
Everything is drying quickly and I have a bit more mulch I’ll cover the bare ground with as the plants shrink and dry. I’ve been watering about every three days by hand, especially the new perennials around the edge.…
