Bird habitat 2017
Transcript of Bird habitat 2017
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Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. CountyProject SOUND – 2017 (our 13th year)
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Birds on a (Space) Budget: attracting birds in a
small garden
C.M. Vadheim, K. Dawdy (and T. Drake)CSUDH (emeritus), CSUDH & City of Torrance
Madrona Marsh PreserveApril 1 & 5, 2017
Last month we learned how to use narrow spaces to best advantage
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Shady seating/ hot tub
Dining
Learned about several ways to use native and non-native plants in narrow spaces
Learned how to evaluate natives for their ‘espalierability’
Saw that espalier is both an art and a science
Explored both formal and informal forms of espalier –and how they’re created
Learned a few tricks for making an area seem smaller
We clipped some interesting photos
Now it’s time to visit the rest of the garden – from a ‘bird’s eye’ perspective.
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http://dargan.com/blending-design-shapes-into-outdoor-seating-areas/
Attributes of the ‘dining area’
16’ by 18’ (plus the extra area) Already gets some afternoon shade,
thanks to the neighbor’s trees and house; but sunny midday
Want seating for 6 at an outdoor table
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https://uk.pinterest.com/explore/italian-courtyard/
Perhaps a grape arbor is just the ticket to provide mid-day shade
Advantages: Provides shade Edible grapes; birds can also eat
them Winter-deciduous; get sun in the
winter when we want it Grape vines are an attractive accent
for a Mediterranean style garden Disadvantages:
Require a fair amount of work each year
Raccoons, opossums and squirrels –and right above the dining table!
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https://uk.pinterest.com/explore/italian-courtyard/
But we do love the sunny yellow ‘room’
Paint the house walls a warm, buttery yellow; maybe brick paving (laid in sand)
? Install a retractable shade; or just install a shade structure without plants –or with something other than grape
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Perhaps an arbor or arch?
Lots of fresh ideas for shade: thank heavens!
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http://best-homedecoration.com/47920/retractable-shade-pergola/
http://www.picrevise.com/?image=http://www.conniehogarth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/shade-cloth-patio-cover-ideas.jpg&title=Patio Cover Ideas Shade Cloth Patio Cover Ideas Home Design Ideas&tag=fabric patio cover ideashttp://classia.net/modern-retractable-pergola/
White vinyl from Lowes
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dura-Trel-105-in-W-x-105-in-L-x-96-in-H-White-Vinyl-Freestanding-Pergola/50343812
It’s time for us all to think seriously about shade
What outdoor living areas could benefit from shade?
Can shade structures help make my home cooler?
How shady? Experiment.
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https://www.pinterest.com/explore/pergolas/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/113223378106437042/
Expanding our useable space
Create a utility area; great potential space for barbeque (handy to table), trash cans, garden shed, rainwater storage, etc. in a handy space
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Extend the hardscape
Make area look larger; might even be able to create a look something like this
An arch with a vine: practical
Nice design element –Mediterranean
Hide utility area; handy but concealed space
Make area look larger by creating another, hidden ‘room’
© Project SOUNDhttp://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Caprifoliaceae/Lonicera%20subspicata.htm
More opportunity for habitat
View from the table (looking North): our vision
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We could place some outdoor mirror ‘windows’ on the yellow wall. View?? Habitat??
View from the table (looking North): our vision
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The open look – featuring green vine and decorative trellis on a yellow wall
View from the table (looking North): our vision
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Hidden trellis and green espalier on a yellow wall; would be nice if flowering
View from the table (looking North): our vision
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Green wall (narrow hedge/screen; or dense informal espalier)
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How bird-friendly is our garden ecosystem?
Excellent Good Fair Poor
How do the common birds rate our garden as habitat?
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To attract birds we need to understand their habits & preferences…
…and a good place to start is with what they eat
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Like butterflies, some birds are ‘picky eaters’
Generalists Eat many different kinds
of food – whatever is available
Well-adapted to different – and changing –environments
Often are common in urban & suburban yards – that’s why many people know them by name
Examples: Crows, Ravens, Scrub Jays, Robins, Mockingbirds
http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/WildlifeSightings/WildlifesightNovember06.htm
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Like butterflies, some birds are ‘picky eaters’
Specialists Eat selected kinds of foods – at
least primarily Raptors – meat-eaters Insect-eaters Fruit-eaters Seed-eaters
Often very well adapted to a specific environment – have ‘developed together over time’
Often are less common in urban & suburban yards – NO FOOD
Examples: Lesser Gold Finch, CA Towhee, Orioles, Tanagers, Warblers, Phoebes
CA Towhee
Audubon’s Warblerhttp://thebirdguide.com/washington/BigDayReport2007.htm
To attract the specialized feeders, we must provide the food they need
Plant ‘hummingbird plants’ that provide good nectar for hummers and other pollinators (next month)
Plant more fruiting plants (including the smaller fruits that we don’t eat – but the birds will)
Use plants (annuals, perennials and shrubs) that produce seeds – and let these plants go to seed
Attract insects to the garden – and don’t kill them with pesticides(more on insects next month)
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What food plants do we have already?Seed eaters Fruit eaters Insect eatersArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
ArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
AmorphaCercocarpusPhiladelphus
CitrusHeteromeles (Toyon)Ribes (currants)
AmorphaCercocarpusCitrusPhiladelphus
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The Honeysuckles: consummate habitat plants
Native honeysuckles occur in moist places throughout the world
Are : Known for their fragrance,
medicinal qualities, and beauty
Used in several ways in gardens, due to their vine-like habit
Often invasive when alien
Feed a wide range of living things including hummingbirds, other birds, bees, moths, butterflies and small animals
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Alien Honeysuckles – the “bad boys” of invasive vines
Japanese Honeysuckle -Lonicera japonica
Amur Honeysuckle -Lonicera maackii
Very invasive- remove by cutting, flaming, or burning the plant to root level and repeating on two-week increments until nutrient reserves in the roots are depleted
Pink Honeysuckle – Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans
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Southern (Santa Barbara/San Diego) Honeysuckle – Lonicera subspicata
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Caprifoliaceae/Lonicera%20subspicata.htm
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Southern (Santa Barbara/San Diego) Honeysuckle – Lonicera subspicata
var. denudata: Coastal CA and Sierras
var. subspicata: Mountains of Santa Barbara county
Quite common on dry slopes below 5000' on chaparral slopes and shaded woodlands
var. denudata
var. subspicata
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Southern honeysuckle: woody vine
Size: 3-8 (up to 20) ft. long 3-4 ft, wide
Growth form: Woody vine Branches are thin, flexible and
wand-like Young bark reddish
Foliage: Leaves simple, opposite Evergreen
http://www.planttrails.com/product/lonicera-subspicata-var-denudata/
Var. denudata
https://www.flickr.com/photos/treebeard/14402151565
var. subspicata
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Flowers and fruits: Southern Honeysuckle
Blooms: Apr-May
Flowers: Typical Honeysuckle flowers (buff-cream & white) Sweet-scented Attract hummingbirds and long-
tongued butterflies
Fruits (berries) Ripen in late summer, fall Small - about 5/16" in diameter Bright red or yellow – very
attractive Edible – but a bit tart for human
tastes
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Caprifoliaceae/Lonicera%20subspicata.htm
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Not a difficult plant to please
Soils: Texture: any – sandy to clay pH: most local pH except alkali (> 8.0)
Light: Full sun along coast or with water Some afternoon shade best in most
gardens
Water: Winter: adequate; no standing water Summer: quite drought tolerant once
established; looks best with occasional summer water (Water Zone 2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: needs support unless used as groundcover; can be trained on trellis, fence, arbor, etc.
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Garden vine Good groundcover, particularly in
shaded areas; on banks; under water-wise trees
Trained along walls, fences, arbors
In a habitat garden: mostly for nectar and edible fruit
In planters and very large pots (for example on a patio)
https://grownatives.cnps.org/2010/05/12/highlights-of-orange-countys-native-garden-tour/
https://www.sanelijo.org/plant-guide/southern-honeysuckle
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/91760911130554680/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571394271450617513/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/370702613048239080/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/370702613048239089/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/193514115215486575/
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/d5/ee/21/d5ee218943c589095239d2217aa1a314.jpg
More options for green screens are becoming available all the time
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1743 S. La Cienega Blvd.Los Angeles, CA [email protected]
View from the table (looking North): our vision
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Hidden trellis and green on a yellow wall –or just use the honeysuckle on the arches
https://www.pinterest.com/jenniferwitte/honeysuckle/http://blueheronlandscapes.com/tag/major-wheeler-honeysuckle/
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CA Coffeeberry – Frangula (Rhamnus) californica
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
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CA Coffeeberry – Frangula (Rhamnus) californica Another coastal species (mostly): Foothills from
OR S. to Baja, including Providence Mtns.; also in some parts of AZ, NV (desert mtns)
Dry flats, moist slopes, ravines, and rocky ridges, usually at elevations below 5,500 feet
Wide range of plant communities: coastal sage scrub, chaparral, woodlands, forests
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Rhamnus+californica©2015 Zoya Akulova
©2012 Jean Pawek
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Coffeeberry: versatile, dense evergreen shrub
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Size: 6-12 ft tall (usually 8-10) 8-10 ft wide
Growth form: Evergreen shrub/small tree Mounded form; at least as wide as tall Bark red, becoming gray Moderate growth rate; long lived
(several 100 yrs)
Foliage: Attractive, medium green; dense Leaves simple, attractive; smaller &
thicker w/ less water Deer love it (hedge); Pale Swallowtail
larval food
Roots: re-sprouts after fire, coppicing
Frangula californica‘Eve Case’
6-8 ft tall & wide Part-shade is good Can easily be hedged; dense Good habitat: nectar, fruits, cover
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/2785041969 https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/7343930414
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172192385726529066/
What food plants do we have now?
Seed eaters Fruit eaters Insect eatersArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
ArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
AmorphaCercocarpusPhiladelphus
CitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Heteromeles (Toyon)Lonicera (Honeysuckle)Ribes (Currants)
AmorphaCercocarpusCitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Lonicera (Honeysuckle)Philadelphus
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Thus far we’ve ignored the green hedge between the hot tub area & main garden
4-5 ft. wide by 16 ft. long
Want a narrow, dense, evergreen hedge; suitable plant?
Want a native plant that provides good bird habitat
Need to incorporate a cozy seating nook
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http://dargan.com/blending-design-shapes-into-outdoor-seating-areas/
http://www.kinggardendesigns.com/pruning/
Difference between a narrow hedge and an espalier Narrow hedge/screen
Free-standing; requires no support Usually formed from shrubs or trees;
must be hedge-able Often deeper & more dense than an
espalier Often better choice for background
(creating illusion of depth) Better choice for bird habitat
Espalier Plants require support Can be done with selected trees/ shrubs
and vines; must be trainable Can be trained to a quite shallow depth –
12-24 inches Can be used to make an area look smaller
– can be an accent© Project SOUND
The importance of hedges and screens in garden design
They can help screen views and create privacy; a good way to break up a garden into rooms
They can be used to make a garden seem larger; green background
They can add a formal element to a garden; clipped hedge
Properly planned and maintained, they can also increase bio-diversity, store carbon, help manage rainwater, and add beauty and livability for all. In short, they can be life-friendly.
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Lemonadeberry – Rhus integrifolia
Lemonadeberry – Rhus integrifolia
S. California endemic: Santa Barbara county to Baja CA – east to Riverside Co.
Dry places < 2600 ft elevation in Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral; Often on ocean-facing slopes or canyons in coastal areas
Rhus: from rhous, an ancient Greek name for Sumac; integrifolia: leaf margins are entire, not toothed
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Rhus-ovata/
Lemonadeberry is a large shrubby plant
Large, sturdy shrub/small tree –may be shorter along immediate coast
3 to 10 ft tall and wide
Trunk is short & stout
Evergreen
Thick, waxy leaves are oval shaped and flat to slightly in-rolled
Leaves are aromatic when crushed
Growth is very dense, particularly when hedged
An attractive native flowering shrub
Flowers
December-May (usually Jan-Mar)
Small, attractive pink-white flowers; clusters at ends of twigs
Lemon-scented
Either bisexual, female or male only; most plants are mostly female or mostly male
Plants not self-fertile; need at least 2 for fruit
Bee pollinated (mostly Honeybees in our gardens)
Lemonadeberry fruits are also attractive Fruit – a flat, very sticky drupe
with a large seed
Borne on female plants (mostly)
Fruits are covered with fine red hairs – and nectar
Fruits ripen in late spring-summer –remain on plants into winter
Wonderful taste; beverage, syrup, jelly, flavoring
Growth requirements of Lemonadeberry
Soils Not particular about pH Well-drained; does fine in
most clays with little/no summer water
Sun: full sun or part shade
Water: little or none when established – very drought & heat tolerant
Nutrition: needs no added fertilizer
Intolerances: High winds – branches brittle Salt spray
Lemonadeberry is very hedge-able
http://gardendesignbybryanvanderhyden.tumblr.com/post/89291529326/this-east-side-santa-barbara-spanish-california
Two Lemonadeberies create a shady retreat
16 ft. area: plant a plant ~ 4 ft. from each end
Will ultimately grow together© Project SOUNDhttp://dargan.com/blending-design-shapes-into-outdoor-seating-areas/
Green hedge: create a vista? block a view?
Could create an opening between hot tub area and main garden (probably where the seat is)
? What are views from both directions ?
? Privacy vs vistas (to provide interest and “enlarge” the garden)
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http://dargan.com/blending-design-shapes-into-outdoor-seating-areas/http://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/the-art-of-framing-a-garden-picture
How long before the hedge is complete?
…and what will we do to create privacy in the meantime?
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March 9, 2017
2009
2012
2015
2017
Short-term solutions to a developing green screen/hedge
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http://homesthetics.net/22-simply-beautiful-low-budget-privacy-screens-for-your-backyard/
http://www.gardenstructuredesign.com/landscape-design-products/trellises-and-trellis-panels/rectangular-trellis-panel/
http://www.brandisworld.com/1798/outdoor-ideas/outdoor-bamboo-privacy-screen/superb-outdoor-bamboo-privacy-screen-5-bamboo-garden-fence-ideas/
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http://www.target.com/p/eden-garden-storage-bench-brown-keter/-/A-17406510?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Patio+Garden+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Patio+Garden&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=s&device=c&location=9031025&gclid=CjwKEAjwtbPGBRDhoLaqn6HknWsSJABR-o5sL_LVTB9hQgCOtgYaBd0CJNbZzFuBLRkvfSU01LBJfRoCz3Tw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/outdoor-couch/
Seating for our cozy nook: many possible options
What food plants do we have now?
Seed eaters Fruit eaters Insect eatersArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
ArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
AmorphaCercocarpusPhiladelphus
CitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Heteromeles (Toyon)Lonicera (Honeysuckle)Rhus (Lemonadeberry)Ribes (Currants)
AmorphaCercocarpusCitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Lonicera (Honeysuckle)PhiladelphusRhus (Lemonadeberry)
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Why concentrate first on large plants?
They’re often easier to install first
They often serve as backdrop for other plants
They ‘set the tone’ for the rest of the garden
They are large – so require careful placement
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They provide lots of habitat with a relatively small footprint:
Things to eat (nectar, pollen, fruits, seeds, foliage, insects)
Places to perch and hide Places to nest
Trees provide excellent bird habitat Potentially provide lots of food
Nectar & pollen Fruits/seeds Insects
Can plant under most trees, so very small footprint
Provide safe perches for many birds at one time
Many birds are tree nesters – for good reason
An old tree (even a dead stump) can provide nest sites for cavity nesters
Even provide shade for the birder!© Project SOUND
Most trees (native or not; large or smaller) provide good bird habitat
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Many in the ‘excellent’ category are the natives
The larger the tree, the more ‘clients’ it can serve
‘Ray Hartman’ Ceanothus
White alder - Alnus rhombifolia
Desert willow - Chilopsis linearis
Does every household need a tree?
It takes a neighborhood to create bird habitat You don’t have to provide everything in your own garden In fact, most gardens are too small to provide adequate range
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http://www.modernhomerealtygroup.com/neighborhoods/
Be aware of the habitat resources in your neighborhood; conduct an informal survey as you walk your neighborhood
Supplement your neighborhood’s habitat resources
Many neighborhoods lack mid-size shrubs
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Suburban tract homes (1940-60’s) often featured shrubs mostly as ‘foundation shrubs’
The lawn ruled supreme
Hedges and vines were viewed as ‘old-fashioned’
Less emphasis on privacy – in part because less crowding? Young families with stay-at-home moms?
Many shrubs planted early (in the life of a neighborhood) have gotten old, were removed (and not replaced)
http://addto.me/1950s-homes/1950s-homes-exquisite-1950s-suburban-homes-economical-small-house/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/330381322634201624/
Hedge vs. hedgerow
Hedge/screen Single species (shrub or
sometimes tree) Width: 2-6 ft.
Hedgerow Multiple species Width: 6 ft. and more Range of size; small (grass) to
large shrubs, even trees Complex ecosystem that
develops over time Good habitat for wide range
of insects, birds, animals
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Succession in an ecosystem (even a small one)
After a disturbance (like fire or clearing land), a pattern emerges:
First the small things that require full sun appear: annual wildflowers, grasses, annual and some perennial weeds
As the sub-shrubs grow, some part-shade tolerant perennials grow in their shade
As shrubs and trees grow, they serve as ‘mother plants’ to an increasingly varied palette of species, including shade-lovers
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Succession in an ecosystem (even a small one) Development of a hedgerow (or
other) ecosystem over time: the ecology of succesion
The overstory plants have a profound influence on the understory – effect literally all aspects of their environment
An understory develops to meet changing availability of light, water, nutrients, pH, soil biota make-up, and other factors.
Understory plants must be chosen –and placed – with conditions in mind
As the ecosystem develops, it is able to serve more – and more varied – birds and animals
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Hedgerows for bird habitat Multiple source(s) of food
Fruits Seeds Nectar (Hummingbirds) Insects
Nest materials
Perches
Shelter
Nest sites Taller and mid-height sites
(ground to 8-15 ft high) Dense: important for protection
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If you’re patient and let Mother Nature work her wonders
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Can you create ‘hedgerow habitat’ with
CA natives?
Of course…
Visit hedgerows anytime on CSUDH campus
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Location: S. end, Parking Lot 7. Hedgerow is on west end, near CAMs school buildings
Location: near Child Development Center - just off Parking Lot 1 (north end of parking lot)
Heritage Creek Preserve Garden of Dreams Discovery Garden
Note: if visiting on a weekend, check to be sure there’s not a soccer or football game
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Hedgerow at Heritage Creek Preserve
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Location: S. end, Parking Lot 7
Started: 2008
Runs: north-south
Features: formal vs. informal
Backbone shrubs:
Lemonadeberry Toyon native Cherries
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
Desert lavender Desert thorn/Wolfberry
Formal side (west)
Informal side (east)
Hedgerow at Heritage Creek Preserve
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Understory plants (mostly east side): these plants supplement those growing in the Preserve proper
Native sages (Salvia apiana; S. leucophylla; S. mellifera)
Native Aquifolium/Berberis
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Native grasses
Native perennials: Narrowleaf milkweed; Yarrow; Sticky monkeyflower
Hedgerow at Garden of Dreams
© Project SOUND
Location: N. end of Parking Lot 1, East of Child Development Center
Started: 2009
Runs: East-West
Features: sunny side vs. shady side; located on steep slope
Backbone shrubs:
Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia)
Catalina cherry (Prunus ilicifoliassp. lyonii) (planted 2016)
Lemonadeberry arch
Sunny side
Shady side
Hedgerow at Garden of Dreams
© Project SOUND
Understory shrubs & plants: supplement those found in other parts of garden
Sunny side: Catalina snapdragon Catalina silverlace Mock heather CA encelia CA sagebrush
Shady side: Coyote bush CA Brickelbush CA encelia Sticky monkeyflower CA wild rose Hummingbird sage Woodmint Mugwort Assorted shade-loving annuals
Sunny side
Shady side
Park near the hedgerow and observe…
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…then go sit on the convenient benches to watch and listen
You’ll likely be surprised by all the activity: birds, insects, animals
Hedges & hedgerows: require routine upkeep
Begin pruning after 3-4 years with local native shrubs, after first year with N. CA shrubs; give time to establish
Prune when actively growing (usually spring-summer; after bloom if possible)
Do as needed – every other month; a bit less as plants mature © Project SOUND
2014
2016
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/151--ceanothus-griseus-horizontalis-yankee-point
‘Yankee Point’ ceanothus
© Project SOUND
Cuts that increase the number of new outer branches: shearing (hedging; heading back)
A form of heading that makes no attempt to cut back to a bud.
Because plants chosen for shearing typically have many lateral buds close together, you'll usually end up cutting near a bud.
Shearing stimulates many buds to produce new growth - you'll be repeating the job regularly. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=LawnGarden/PruningPlants
https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/blog/2015/01/10-reasons-to-choose-box-hedging/
http://www.elitetreecare.ca/hedge-shearing/
http://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=64903
Where is there space for a hedgerow?
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Shady seating/ hot tub
Dining
Backyard is pretty full Front yard might be a
possibility What size does a hedgerow
need to be?
Born of need: the ‘mini-hedgerow’
http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/cea_thr.html
The ‘mini-hedgerow’ – garden-sized ecosystem Height: 4-6 ft. maximum
Width: 4-6 ft. maximum
Length: any 6-30+ ft. (the longer the better the habitat value)
Layers:
Backbone shrubs: medium size shrubs (or those that can be pruned to size)
Smaller shrubs & sub-shrubs (evergreen or drought-deciduous)
Annual and perennial wildflowers
Native grasses© Project SOUND
‘Centennial’ Manzanita, Purple sage, grasses & wildflowers
The ‘mini-hedgerow’ – backbone shrubs
Local favorites Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) Coyote bush (tall form) Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
Green and more northerly Coffeeberry cultivars * Arctostaphylos densiflora cultivars
like ‘Howard McMinn’, ‘Sentennial’ **Arctostaphylos pajaroensis 'Paradise‘ * Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium
Desert shrubs: *Berberis fremontii *Calliandra species * Ceanothus greggii Boxthorns (*Lycium species) * Simmondsia chinensis
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Northerly options
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http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_native_hedges.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/523262050435366626/
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_native_hedges.htmlOregon grape
Desert species should do well into the future
© Project SOUND
Lycium andersonii Simmondsia chinensis
Lycium cooperi
We decide to postpone our decisions on the mini-hedgerow until next month
By then we’ll know more about our backyard choices
And we’ll also see how our choices will affect both bird and insect habitat
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Birds need more than food…
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Things you can do to attract more birds
Provide clean, safe water Provide a spot of bare soil
about 20 inches across in a sunny corner of your yard. This will allow birds to take dust baths to clean their feathers and get rid of parasites.
http://www.iusedtohatebirds.com/2011/07/youngins.html
How can we measure our success (as a bird garden)
Checklist: provide all the elements of bird habitat
Bird numbers: roughly count the number of birds: Before we install the habitat After (at intervals)
Species diversity: start a bird list for the garden Simple running list Add details each year: numbers, months
seen, nesting, etc.
Functional assessment: how birds use garden (feeding; drinking; nesting; etc.)
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How are we doing? Multiple source(s) of food
Fruits Seeds Nectar (Hummingbirds) Insects
Nest materials
Perches
Shelter
Nest sites
Water
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Let’s focus on attracting a group of birds (and butterflies) that are also pollinators
Ribes, Lonicera Lamiaceae (Mint family) Other herbs
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Characteristics of the eastern side yard area
Size: 8 ft x 30 ft
Bright part-shade: between the espalier and house
Views from both bedrooms
Currently just ignored –some garden castoffs are stored there
It’s a shame to let this area go to waste, but what will grow here? Herbs?
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What herbs could we grow in bright shade?
Annuals Parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum/ crispum) Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) Cilantro/Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Perennials Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Lovage (Levisticum officinale) Mint (Mentha spp.) Native mints (Monardella; Pycnanthemum) Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum’) Angelica (Angelica archangelica) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
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http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2014/11/save-money-grow-your-own-herbs.html
We could also grow lettuce and spinach here in the cool season
We sit in the area and assess its potential
Narrow, but workable
Good site for part-shade-loving herbs – especially the mints
Will be relatively easy to water as needed
? containment
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http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening-blog/herb-garden-solutions
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/mint/growing-watermint.htm
Two types of ‘shady herbs’: the shrubby ones and the spreaders
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Some differences between the two herb types Shrubby types
Often are sub-shrubs
Often from mediterranean climates
Need less water/drier conditions
Some may sprawl, but they don’t really spread
Spreaders
Usually are herbaceous perennials; spread via rhizomes
Often from slightly moister climates (including higher elevations)
Need to be moist/regular water© Project SOUND
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus_vulgaris
English Thyme
Wild mint
Three types of ‘herbs’ we might want to include:
Sub-shrub Mints CA Monardellas
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Creeping thyme Tarragon (Artemisia
dracunculus)
Dill Parsley/Chervil Cilantro
Creeping thyme Garlic chives Ginger Golden Oregano Lemon balm Mints
Mentha Pycnanthemum Salvia spathacea
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Stay put/ drier shrubs Spreading perennials
Annuals
We flip through our garden notebook for inspiration
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https://davidwalkerattny.com/2017/03/12/lets-get-planting/comment-page-1/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/hgen/the-medieval-herb-garden.htm
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/texas-gardening/
http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/what-you-can-grow-in-shady-spaces/
Aha! moment: spreaders in containers; sub-shrubs
in ground
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http://www.sunset.com/garden/garden-basics/
http://jayscottsmanufacturing.com/distributors/http://clipart-library.com/bushes-png.html
For our in-the-ground plants we consider thyme, creeping thyme, tarragon and our favorite native Monardellas
Advantages of this planting plan: several
Makes good use of ground place; sort of like hedgerow Contains the plants that need containing Allows us to provide optimal water, soil conditions Adds interest and habitat value (in addition to cooking and
medicinal herbs)© Project SOUND
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The genus Monardella
20 species native to western North America.
Commonly known as wildmints, coyote mints or monardellas.
Highly aromatic foliage; some species used for herbal teas.
Two-lipped, tubular flowers in terminal clusters; usually red, pink, or purple.
Caterpillar (moth and butterfly) foodplants; also nectar sources
Special needs: excellent drainage; cannot take excess winter dampness
http://www.laspilitas.com/butterfl_files/pale_swallowtail_butterfly_on_a_monardella.jpg
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Coyote Mint – Monardella villosa
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*Willow Mint – Monardella linoides ssp. viminea
© 2005 Jasmine J. Watts
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*Willow Mint – Monardella linoides ssp. viminea
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4789,4811,4815
SW San Diego Co. from Poway to the Mexican Border; also in Baja
Rocky washes to 1000‘; chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian scrub
linoides: having form/some resemblance to Linum, the genus of flax; viminea: with long slender shoots
Rare in nature; ?? delisted
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127605180@N04/15756408994©2009 Robert Steers
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Willow Mint: a dainty perennial Size:
1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft wide; sprawling
Growth form: Herbaceous perennial Sprawling/draping Semi-deciduous;
evergreen with more water
Foliage: Narrow leaves Light green; very aromatic Makes a nice tea
Roots: taproot
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Plant Requirements Soils: Texture: very well-drained;
sandy or rocky pH: any local
Light: Full sun to light shade; better
with some shade from afternoon sun
Water: Regular water to establish Summer: occasional water
best (Zone 2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: cut back by 1/3 after blooming to improve appearance if desired.http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/willowymonardella.html
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Flowers are delicately lovely
Blooms: Summer: usually June-Aug. in
our area; may be as late as Nov.
Flowers: Typically Mint-like Color lavender, white or pink Minty fragrance Nectar attracts many
pollinators: butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Seeds: songbirds eat the small seeds.
Vegetative reproduction: via divisions
http://www.treeoflifenursery.com/main/PDFs/Plant-Profiles/Mona_lino_vimi.pdf
http://www.theodorepayne.org/gallery/pages/M/monardella_linoides_viminea.htm
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Garden uses for Willow Mint
Along dry walkways (where you will smell its fragrance)
In rock gardens or containers As a fire-retardant buffer plant In a native perennial hummingbird/
butterfly garden Any place with some dry part-shade
http://www.theodorepayne.org/gallery/pages/M/monardella_linoides_viminea.htm
http://www.landscaperesource.com/plants/monardella-linoides-ssp-viminea.htm
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So. Mountain Monardella – Monardella australis
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences
Eastern Transverse Range of S. CA – San Gabriel, San Bernardino, San Jacinto Ranges
Wet or dry, rocky, forest openings from 3500-11,000 ft.; Sagebrush scrub, montane forests
ADA: Desert monardella
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So. Mountain Monardella – Monardella australis
©2007 Thomas Stoughton ©2017 Keir Morse
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Short, grayish and oh, so fragrant!
Size: 1-2 ft tall 2-3 ft wide
Growth form: Herbaceous perennial from stout
woody taproot Many upright stems
Foliage:
Color: green to gray-green (hairier in hot, sunny places)
Simple leaves
Strong minty scent – great tea (medicinal or ‘sipping tea’)
Al Schneider @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
http://cnps-sgm.org/gallery/images0808/GMG_0495-South-A-m.jpg
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A showy Monardella Blooms:
Summer in the wilds Likely June-July in our area
Flowers: Pale pink to light magenta –
good colors for garden Flowers small – typical for
Monardellas Flowers in ball-like clusters
at ends of flowering stems Really showy Attracts butterflies,
hummingbirds, many others
Seeds: small, typical for Mint family
© 2009 Terry Dye © 2011 Wynn Anderson
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Likes a little shade Soils:
Texture: well-drained; sandy or rocky are fine
pH: any local
Light: Part-shade (morning sun) works
well Dappled shade under trees is ideal
Water: Winter: good soakings Summer: happy with occasional
summer water (Zone 2, even 2-3 in well-drained soils)
Fertilizer: fine with organic amendments, mulches
©2017 Keir Morse
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S. Mountain Monardella Shadier edges of herb garden –
S. CA Monardellas work well with Thyme, Creeping thyme, Tarragon
As an accent plant in large containers
In a rock or butterfly garden
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Mountain Monardella – Monardella odoratissima
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences©2011 Steven Perry
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Mountain Monardella – Monardella odoratissima
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Monardella+odoratissima
Foothills and mountains of northern and central CA, incl. Klamath, N. Coast, Sierra, White and Inyo Mountains – north to OR, WA
? San Gabriels – Monardella australis sometimes AKA Monardella odoratissima ssp. australis
Wet or dry, rocky, forest openings from 3500-11,000 ft. in Sagebrush scrub, montane forests
https://klamathsiskiyouseeds.com/2015/10/Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences
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The name (odoratissima) says it all
Size: 1-2 (sometimes 3) ft tall 2-3 ft wide
Growth form: Herbaceous perennial from
stout woody taproot Many upright stems
Foliage: Color: green to gray-green
(hairy) Simple leaves Strong minty scent – great tea
(medicinal or ‘sipping tea’)
© 2009 Terry Dye
Al Schneider @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
http://web.ewu.edu/ewflora/Lamiaceae/Monardella%20odoratissima.html
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A showy Monardella
Blooms: Summer in the wilds Likely June-July in our area
Flowers: Pale pink to light magenta –
good colors for garden Flowers small – typical for
Monardellas Flowers in ball-like clusters at
ends of flowering stems Really showy Attracts butterflies,
hummingbirds, many others
Seeds: small, typical for Mint family
© 2009 Terry Dye © 2011 Wynn Anderson
http://cedarmountainperennials.com/wildflowers/monardella_odoratissima
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Mountain Monardella
Northern Monardellas work well with other part-shade garden herbs like Dill, Parsley, Chervil and Cilantro
© 2010 Steven Thorsted
Ssp. pallida
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Monardella_odoratissima_ssp._pallida&redirect=no
Mints for May
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Next month we’ll have a few of our favorites for sale
Spreaders we may want to include in our hummingbird herb garden
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Creeping thyme
Garlic chives
Ginger
Golden Oregano
Lemon balm
Creeping Mints Mentha Pycnanthemum Salvia spathacea
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263390278176487880/
We love them – but don’t want them to take over
Do we have to use expensive containers?
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Nope: the spreaders like a little more water, so they are happy (and easier to keep watered) in containers with slower drainage - plastic, composite, etc.
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http://goodlifegarden.ucdavis.edu/blog/tag/mint/
https://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/menthaspicatacv.htm
19 gal. from Walmart - $10.00
https://www.behrensmfg.com/products/tubs/15_5-gallon-square-tub/
Options for containing the spreaders
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* Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum californicum
© 2001 Jeff Abbas
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* Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum californicum
Foothills of mountina ranges from OR to Mexico
Locally in the San Gabriels
Moist sites of chaparral, oak woodland, and coniferous forests
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4861,4862
The genus Pycnanthemum - in the mint family, Lamiaceae.
Most species are very strongly scented and pungent
Most are used in cooking and in making herbal tea.
All species in this genus are native to North America.
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CA Mountain Mint – a typical mint Size:
1-2 ft tall Spreading to 4+ ft wide
Growth form: Herbaceous perennial Stems erect (for the most part) Fast-growing (like Stachys) Woodsy looking
Foliage: Attractive gray-green color – may
be fuzzy or not Simple, lance-shaped leaves Make a nice tea
Roots: Spreading via rhizomes
© 2006 Dean Wm. Taylor, Ph.D.
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Flowers are tiny & sweet
Blooms: Summer - usually June-Aug
in our area
Flowers: In ball-like cluster typical of
Mint family Flowers are small White, usually with lavender
spots Very old-fashioned look
Seeds: Many tiny seeds – can shake
them out of dried clusters
© 2009 Neal Kramer
© 2001 Jeff Abbas
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Easy to please Soils: Texture: any, very adaptable pH: any local
Light: full sun to part-shade
Water: Winter: takes seasonal flooding –
good for wet parts of garden Summer: needs regular water –
Zone 2-3 to 3.
Fertilizer: would do best with some added humus or leaf mulch
Other: treat like other mints – rip out parts that are growing where you don’t want it (pot up and give new plants away – people will be happy to get them!)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3922100003_85f1edee51.jpg
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Use Mountain Mint in wet areas
Under a birdbath or fountain
Places where the neighbor’s water makes the soil damp
In bog gardens
In large, moist-soil containers
In the vegetable garden
Moist areas along walkways –smells wonderful when stepped on – and it doesn’t mind a bit!
Around ponds/pools
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/97463864_abe4a596f8.jpg?v=0
© 2001 Jeff Abbas
http://best-home-decor.com/decorative-bird-baths-to-beautify-your-garden/
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* Wild (Field) Mint – Mentha arvensis
© 2005 Louis-M. Landry
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Field Mint – a typical mint Size:
1 to 1 ½ ft tall spreads to many ft wide; in
nature, forms a mat-like colony in favorable sites
Growth form: Herbaceous perennial Dies back in fall/winter Upright or sprawling
Foliage: Typical mint with square stems Aromatic; strongly minty – repels
deer, mice, unwanted insects
Roots: spreads via rhizomeshttp://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/mentha-arvensis-wild-mint
© Project SOUND
Flowers are dainty
Blooms: anytime from July to Oct; usually in bloom about 4 weeks
Flowers: Color: white to very pale
violet or pink Tiny; bell-shaped In dense, ball-like clusters in
leaf axils – often mostly hidden by the leaves
Vegetative reproduction: Easy to propagate from stem
cuttings in spring, fall Let them root in water in a
light place – no direct sunhttp://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/mentha-arvensis-wild-mint
© 2004, Ben Legler
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Mint in the garden Best use: as an attractive
potted herb; evergreen most of the year (dies back in fall/winter)
© 2003 Steve Matson
© Richard Oldhttp://groweat.blogspot.com/2010/06/plant-with-caution.html
Hummingbird Sage – Salvia spathacea
Hummingbird Sage – great for attracting birds & butterflies
Hummingbirds collect nectar from the flowers –hummingbirds actually pollinate the flowers
Seed-eating birds eat the seeds
Butterflies are also attracted by the nectar
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htm
Benefits of our hummingbird/herb garden
Provides nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies and others much of the year
Provides some of the herbs we use regularly in cooking
Provides an attractive, restful view from the bedrooms
Allows us to grow plants with different water, containment requirements
Would be a wonderful place to sit on a hot day
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What food plants do we have now?
Seed eaters Fruit eaters Insect eatersArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
ArtemisiaEriogonumSalviasTetraneuris (sunflower)
AmorphaCercocarpusPhiladelphus
CitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Heteromeles (Toyon)Lonicera (Honeysuckle)Rhus (Lemonadeberry)Ribes (Currants)
AmorphaCercocarpusCitrusFrangula (Coffeeberry)Philadelphus
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Plenty of sources of food for nectar-sippers
Plant groups that provide lots of seeds Apiaceae (Carrot family)
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Boraginaceae (Borage family)
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)
Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf family)
Fabaceae (Pea family)
Nyctaginaceae (Four o'clock family) Onagraceae (Willowherb family) Papaveraceae (Poppy family) Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
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Aha! moment: good seed-producers are often good pollinator plants!
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Plants that need to produce lots of seeds (to insure survival) need to attract many pollinators. It’s no surprise they produce lots of nectar and pollen to entice their pollinators.
We’ll take up the choice of pollinator plants next month…
© Project SOUND
…and provide food for the pollinators and the seed-eating birds, all with our carefully chosen plant palette.
© Project SOUND
Things you can do to attract more birds
Plant a greater variety of plants to attract a greater diversity of birds: taller and shorter trees, shrubs, native flowers, and grasses.
Diversify the height, leaf type, and food (fruits, berries, and nuts) provided by the plants in your garden.
Plant shrubs and trees that provide berries well into the winter to attract fruit-eating birds – including migrants like Cedar Waxwings.
© Project SOUND
Things you can do to attract more birds
Supplement your natural food sources by adding feeders - but only if you choose to.
http://www.duncraft.com/Bird-Feeders
http://realhousemoms.com/orange-bird-feeders/
Bird feeders vs. ‘natural foods’: each has its place
Supplemental/Bird feeders
Insure constant supply of food, even in a small yard
Provide food in ‘off-season’ -when not available from natural sources
Allows to provide unusual, bird-specific foods that may not be available naturally
Can locate for easy viewing
Natural (plant-related)
Cheaper in the long run
Possible health benefits – we don’t yet know all the plant chemicals and their benefits
Some plants supply other needs: perches, cover, nesting sites and materials, etc.
Spread out the food – less easy target for birds of prey
Joy of watching bird’s natural behavior in natural setting
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© Project SOUND
Things you can do to attract more birds
Provide clean, safe water Provide a spot of bare soil
about 20 inches across in a sunny corner of your yard. This will allow birds to take dust baths to clean their feathers and get rid of parasites.
http://www.iusedtohatebirds.com/2011/07/youngins.html
© Project SOUND
Things you can do to attract more birds
Plant in groupings: more food & edge effects.
Include native wildflowers and shrubs that attract insects: the insects will feed insect-eating birds and the young of many seed eaters.
Allow flowers/grasses to go to seed to attract finches, juncos, sparrows, and other seed-eating birds.
Consider providing the whole habitat package Multiple source(s) of food
Fruits Seeds Nectar (Hummingbirds) Insects
Nesting materials
Perches
Shelter
Nest sites
Water
Dust-bathing site© Project SOUND
In small gardens, use vertical space effectively to create a life-friendly garden
Plan your taller plants first
Consider all possibilities:
Walls, fences, arbors, pergolas, etc.
Places to accommodate an espalier, hedge, taller shrub or small tree
Choose taller plants based on habitat value (often food)
When possible, plant a hedgerow instead of a hedge:
Maximizes space; plants grow together Increases diversity and habitat in
relatively small area.© Project SOUND
If I had to choose just a few plants…
Fruiting/nut tree (elderberry; oak; other) that provides fruits, insects, perches & nesting sites
A mixed hedgerow of large evergreen fruiting shrubs: Toyon; Rhus; Ribes; scrub oak; wild rose
Several large ‘bush sunflowers’ (Mulefat; Goldenbushes)
Anything else in the Sunflower family: annual, perennial or shrub
Annual/perennial wildflowers
Native grasses
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Native hedgerow : Heritage Creek Preserve – CSU Dominguez Hills
Some books you might enjoy
D. Tallamy – Bringing Nature Home
R. Darke & D. Tallamy - The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden. Timber Press. ISBN-10: 1604694084; ISBN-13: 9781604694086
C.E. Sawyers – The Authentic Garden: Five Principles for Cultivating a Sense of Place. Timber Press. ISBN-13: 978-0-88192-831-0
S. Stein – Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards. Houghton Mifflen Press. ISBN-10:0-395-70940-7; ISBN-13: 978-0-395-70949-5
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Next month we’ll explore the fascinating world of Pollinator Gardening
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