P.O. B ox 635 , Sa n Jua n Capistra no, CA 92693 • T 949.728.0685 • F 949.728.0509
sage advice...
The California Gardenwww.CaliforniaNativePlants.com
By surrounding ourselves with landscapes that reflect the true nature of our region, we embrace the uniquecharacter that makes California such a wonderful place to live. The California garden is tended nature in miniature.It’s not about the plants. It’s about generosity. It’s about giving back to the land and giving oneself the pleasureand satisfaction of loving, getting involved, and tending a garden modeled after the natural beauty of the region.It’s about giving to everyone that sees and enjoys it the opportunity to experience authentic California…
SAN DIEGO FOOTHILL COURTYARD
Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia, Baja Bird BushArctostaphylos otayensis, Otay ManzanitaXylococcus bicolor, Mission ManzanitaRomneya coulteri, Matilija PoppyTrichostema lanatum, Woolly Blue CurlsViguiera laciniata, San Diego SunflowerAsclepias fascicularis, Narrow-leaf MilkweedEpilobium canum, California FuchsiaLessingia filaginifolia v. filaginifolia, California Aster
—add a water source for butterflies and birds....
SHADED CANYON HIDEAWAY
Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live OakCarpenteria californica, Bush AnemoneRibes sanguineum, Red Flowering CurrantWoodwardia fimbriata, Giant Chain FernIris douglasiana, Coast IrisAquilegia formosa, Red ColumbineArctostaphylos uva-ursi, Bearberry Manzanita
—add a winding dry creek bed....
CATALINA RETREAT
Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius, IronwoodArctostaphylos catalinae, Catalina Island ManzanitaCeanothus 'Ray Hartman', Wild LilacDendromecon harfordii, Island Bush PoppyGalvezia speciosa, Island SnapdragonEriogonum giganteum, St. Catherine's LaceRibes viburnifolium, Evergreen CurrantHeuchera maxima, Island Alumroot
—add a few well-placed benches....
DESERT PARADISE
Cercidium floridum, Blue Palo VerdeChilopsis linearis, Desert WillowJusticia californica, ChuparosaEncelia farinosa, BrittlebushSphaeralcea ambigua, Apricot MallowPenstemon centranthifolius, Scarlet Bugler
—add a low adobe wal l ....
CHAPARRAL TRAIL
Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live OakQuercus engelmanii, Mesa OakHeteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, California HollyRhus integrifolia, LemonadeberryArctostaphylos ‘Lester Rowntree’, ManzanitaRomneya ‘White Cloud’, Matilija PoppyRosa californica, Wild RoseSalvia clevelandii, Blue SagePenstemon spectabilis, Showy Penstemon
—add a few boulders and rustic walkways....
WOODLAND GARDEN
Pinus sabiniana, Foothill PineCercis occidentalis, Western RedbudCarpenteria californica, Bush AnemoneRhamnus californica, CoffeeberryMahonia ‘Golden Abundance’, Oregon GrapeMonardella villosa, Coyote Mint
—add some potted Irises and Monkeyflowers....
SOUTHERN COASTAL PARADISE
Pinus torreyana, Torrey PineCeanothus megacarpus, Big Pod CeanothusDendromecon harfordii, Island Bush PoppyComarostaphylos diversifolia, Summer HollyBaccharis 'Pigeon Point', Coyote BrushSalvia apiana, White SageEncelia californica, Coast SunflowerEpilobium canum, California FuchsiaMimulus aurantiacus var. puniceus, Red Monkeyflower
—add seeded wildflowers on a hillside....
MOUNTAIN MEADOW
Mahonia 'Golden Abundance', Oregon GrapeRibes aureum, Bitter GooseberryDeschampsia caespitosa, Tufted HairgrassSolidago californica, California GoldenrodFragaria californica (vesca), Wild Strawberry
—add a shallow pond....
Loose arrangements of plants
and other elements that represent nature…
The soft lines, subtle textures and rich fragrance of the wild…
The untamed spirit of authentic California…
P.O. B ox 635 , Sa n Jua n Capistra no, CA 92693 • T 949.728.0685 • T 949.728.0685
NATURALISTIC PLANTINGS:Create a truly inspiring setting right outside your door! With a naturalistic approach to planting your outdoorspaces, you can add life, depth and a sense of intimacy, while stimulating the senses of those who seek the solaceof the outdoors. This concept deals with gardens that nurture the spirit and bring the healing experience ofnature up close. The following five principles are key to designing and caring for a California nature garden:
1. DIVERSITY OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES
Coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, chaparral and grasslandthemes should be the local models on a small scale whenformulating your design and selecting plants. Choose oneto several species of trees (evergreen and deciduous) andeven more shrubs, subshrubs, herbaceous and woodyperennials, succulents, bulbs, grasses and annuals. Naturalistic gardens display much greater species diversitythan conventional landscapes, which tend to overuse thesame few plants.
2. APPROPRIATE SPACING
In nature, you will observe areas that are sparsely vegetated.In the garden, this allows plants to grow to mature sizeand be admired individually. Bare places between plantsreduces competition for moisture and minimizes pruningrequirements. Birds and lizards use bare ground for huntingand foraging.
3. LAYERED PLANTINGS
Tall, medium and low plants grow-ing together adds depth, interest,and privacy to gardens. A canopylayer, shrub layer and groundcoverlayer of locally native plants also increases habitat value.
4. NATURAL FEATURES
Borrowed from nature, these details lend authenticityand a sense of place to the California garden. Rocks andboulders, fallen branches, rolling mounds of soil, a drystreambed... all are artful and functional elements in naturalistic plantings. A water feature makes a wonderfulfocal point.Furniture, pottery, fencing and paths can be made of natural materials like twigs, clay, wood and stone.
5. MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
A ‘hands-off ’ approach is best for native, naturalisticplantings. Most importantly, water only when necessary.Become familiar with your soil type and how long it holdsmoisture. Also, the traditional standards of regular, heavypruning, raking and spraying will not apply. Leaf litter shouldremain under plants and light pruning should only bedone once a year, if necessary.
The ultimate reward for this effort is the reappearanceof wildlife (songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds,beneficial insects, lizards, etc.). These magical creatures will be drawn to nest, forage and seekcover in this newly restored bit of nature.
For MUCH more inspiration and information visit:www.CaliforniaNativePlants.com
