I know this gardening season isn’t over yet, but I’m already . Some are already being grown on a limited basis by the wholesale growers while others won’t become available until 2011. Recently I had the opportunity to view up-close and personal some of these new unique perennials, shrubs and grasses. It’s exciting to envision … Continue reading New Plants for 2011
Fall brings with it not only foliage color but also colorful fruits and berries that invite birds into your garden. If you’re a backyard birder you probably already have lots of plants to lure our feathered friends, If you have room for a new tree, consider Paul’s scarlet hawthorn. With clusters of double rose flowers … Continue reading Attracting Birds to your Garden
In like a lion, out like a lamb. This phrase describing refers to the position in the sky of the constellation Leo, the lion, at the beginning of the month and Aries, the ram or lamb, at the end. As I write this week’s column, the saying rings true so far this month. Beautiful weather … Continue reading Gardening tips for late March in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Redwoods in Maui? I first heard about them at the Nature Center in . A sign there said they were grown for commercial reasons in Hawaii. So now that I’m here on the island of Maui I just had to see them for myself. I knew that redwood from our forests was used in the … Continue reading Redwoods in Maui
A Thanksgiving Poem by Jan Nelson The Mountain Gardener Once upon a time when our area was under water there were no parks or trails or trees or gardens. I’m thankful that our mountains rose from an ancient ocean so we could enjoy … Continue reading A Thanksgiving Poem
Recently I got to enjoy this beautiful October weather walking among the redwoods, mixed oak woodland and open fields watching hawks soar overhead and listening to migrating warblers in the trees. I was not here in Santa Cruz county, however, but Pt. Reyes National Seashore-a similar but different environment. What struck me was how the … Continue reading How to have a Sense of Place in your garden