Future shrubs 2016-final-notes
Transcript of Future shrubs 2016-final-notes
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© Project SOUND
Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. CountyProject SOUND – 2016 (our 12th year)
© Project SOUND
Shrubs in a Changing World:CA native shrubs for a mid-century
modern house (with an emphasis on our changing climate)
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh PreserveApril 7 & 9, 2016
2016 Season ‐ Rediscovering Eden: S. California Gardens for the 21st Century
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In February, we discussed climate change and the need to rethink our plant palettes
© Project SOUNDhttp://www.zillow.com/homedetails/23192-Maple-Ave-Torrance-CA-90505/2106438376_zpid/
http://www.clker.com/clipart-tree-silhouette-4.html
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This month we consider climate-wise shrubs and how to use them in a ‘Mid-century Modern’ front yard First, let’s consider the context of
‘California Mid-century Modern’ homes
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Lots of things changed after WW II
Social & economic change after the Great Depression, WWII
Population movements: Rural to towns/cities North & West (especially
California)
Population explosion – ‘Baby Boom’
Increasing influence of the automobile – ability to work at a distance from home
Need to build lots of new housing, FAST – housing tracts and planned communities
© Project SOUNDhttp://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/time-capsule-los-angeles-development-boom-of-the-1950s
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362399101238144786/
Up to WWII, most people lived in homes built in the 1920’s or before
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https://www.airbnb.com/s/Long-Beach--CA?s_tag=mF0IqGpA
People knew how to decorate such homes, inside & out
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But mid-century modern homes were quite different from the houses of the past
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California mid-century modern homes represent a rebellion against the past…
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… and a pragmatic approach to dealing with scarce resources (building materials, lot sizes, views, $$$)
The houses were different from those of the past
Flat planes, geometric lines. Flat roofs are common, though modern ranch-style houses had gable roofs.
Large windows, sliding-glass doorsand other expansive panes of glass allow light to enter rooms from multiple angles.
Changes in elevation. Partial walls, or cabinets of varying heights to create different depths in the space.
Integration with nature. Rooms have multiple outdoor views, or multiple access points
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Some tract houses were quite innovative
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Trickle-down effect in design: the Eames Chair
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http://abduzeedo.com/eames-lounge-chair-icon-modern-design-book
The original Eames Chair
https://mcmclassics.com/products/charles-leather-lounge-chair-and-ottoman-terracotta-or-black-in-walnut-veneer-eames-style?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=14253433479
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/lounge-chairs/eames-style-plycraft-chair-ottoman/id-f_790966/?utm_content=test&product=f790966&gclid=CjwKEAjwrOO3BRCX55-L9_WojHoSJAAPxcSP6IwCxVGg4w3h-PBHMdTp_05v226c2ObOrUdjFdgwiRoCU0Tw_wcB
https://www.chairish.com/product/203746/eames-mid-century-style-chair-and-ottoman?utm_campaign=Purchasing_Site_PLA_PLA_Shopping&utm_content=Chair+%26+Ottoman+Sets&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=Eames+Mid-Century+Style+Chair+And+Ottoman&gclid=CjwKEAjwrOO3BRCX55-L9_WojHoSJAAPxcSPiEk_S6fHXGbpiMc7d-Y7k0EM76bPiETgGRu_SFFwoRoCWXzw_wcB
The same is true with home architecture
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https://www.millmanteam.com/torrance-real-estate/central-torrance/
But the best place to learn about gardens for mid-century modern homes is the visionaries and their designs.
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How did the architects and landscape designers of the period view the landscapes around suburban homes?
Mid-century Ranch House tracts
While the majority of tract housing was built by developers without architects, several notable architecture firms (Palmer and Krisel, Smith and Williams, Jones and Emmons, and Edward H. Fickett) brought their respected Modernist ideas to the design and construction of tens of thousands of tract homes.
Many different varieties, including the prefabricated versions designed by Cliff May and architect Chris Choate, seen at Rancho Estates (1954) in Long Beach.
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http://www.cbcoastalalliance.com/posts/cliff-may-ranchos-long-beach-a-pictorial
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Cliff May Homes Considered by many to be the inventor of
the modern ranch house, Cliff May is a legendary figure in Southern California architecture.
Of the many tract housing developments he designed in the 1950s, the largest (and one of the highest-praised) was Lakewood Rancho Estates in Long Beach.
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http://esotericsurvey.blogspot.com/2013_11_01_archive.html
Born in 1909, May spent summers as a youth on an original Mexican ranch owned by an aunt on his father’s side.
He never attended architecture school, but he began designing and building houses in San Diego in his early 20s . He moved to Los Angeles in 1935.
He fused elements of the Spanish Revival style with Modernism to produce low-slung, horizontally oriented, pitched-roof ranch houses. Their open, relaxed layout emphasized outdoor living, perfect for the casual lifestyle and temperate climate of Southern California.
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Cliff May Rancho Estates – Long Beach
http://www.ranchostyle.com/
https://www.laconservancy.org/architects/cliff-may
Cliff May Ranch Estates
The homes were designed using a five-foot module and were very cheap and easy to build - the major elements were pre-cut and assembled, ‘four men could put the basic structure up in a day’.
May defined the ranch house through its function. A May house has an open plan, with rooms arrayed in 'V'- or 'L'-shape around a courtyard. In the apex of the 'V' or 'L,' you'll generally find the living room, with bedrooms to one side, and kitchen, dining, and service areas to the other.
May emphasized indoor-outdoor living, so the houses featured large windows and glass doors that opened onto patios and courtyards paved with grids of aggregate concrete.
© Project SOUNDhttp://retrorenovation.com/2013/01/23/8-cliff-may-inspired-ranch-house-plans-from-houseplans-com/
The ‘Mid-century Modern Homes’ – so commonplace to us – were truly ‘something new’ to the
1950’s home buyer
© Project SOUNDhttp://www.cbcoastalalliance.com/categories/Buyers/posts.mobile?page=1
http://www.calbungalow.com/?dsidx-force-full=true
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Gardens also changed after WWII
Shortage of some materials
Lot size much smaller than garden designers were used to working with previously
The influence of modern trends in art and architecture.
The beginning of schools of landscape architecture – and of the profession as we know it today
In short, the time was ripe for something new in home & landscape architecture
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The attitudes of architects & landscape architects changed as well
The fundamental factors in designing Modernist architecture also apply to designing the garden:
meeting the clients specific needs
making the garden design complimentary to buildings
relating to land forms
considering the microclimates and general weather conditions encountered at the site.
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Unfortunately, most new homeowners were pretty much left to their own devices
…but not entirely on their own
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The Post-war Modernist garden design style began in California
Developed by a small group of landscape designers with ties to UC Berkeley & Harvard Schools of Landscape Design
Thomas Church was the "first founder."
Subsequent founders and practitioners include Garrett Eckbo, Robert Royston, James C. Rose, and Dan Kiley
Designed large gardens – but also gardens for smaller home gardens
Some also were inspired to educate novice home gardeners about the basics of good design
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https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/30/f2/ed/30f2ed823112595e097297faa48df53c.jpg
Thomas Church
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The influence of Thomas Church – still can be seen today
1902-1978 – raised in CA
Began his study of garden design at the UC Berkeley (BA)
Masters in landscape architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Created nearly 2,000 gardens, in addition to several major large- scale public commissions
Also wrote for all the major gardening magazines of the time
His voice was unique, distinct, and influential.
© Project SOUND
https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/unit-3-contemporary-landscape-history/deck/2680311
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354236326912984856/
For Church, house and garden were part of the same design
“All the gardens we now create in California are based on the concepts and philosophies of Thomas Church; we just don’t know it,” says Richard McPherson, a landscape architect who teaches a class on Church at UC-Berkeley Extension. “Before Church, gardens were mainly just a collection of plants. Church changed how the house related to the garden, combining what he learned in Europe with the possibilities of the almost perfect Californian climate.”
https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=37793
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Church outlined four principles for his design process in Gardens Are For People.
Unity — the consideration of the design as a whole, integrating the house and its gardens with a free flow between them.
Function — the relation of the outdoor recreational and social areas to their interior counterparts, and of the outdoor service areas to the household's needs, to please and serve the people who live in them.
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Church outlined four principles for his design process in Gardens Are For People.
Simplicity — upon which rests the aesthetic and economic success of the design.
Scale — relating the different design parts, features, and areas to one another, to create a whole an integrated landscape design
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Learn more about Thomas Church
See more of his projects at The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8NRUUD5sSc Thomas D. Church Oral History Project –
https://archive.org/stream/landscapearchite01thomrich/landscapearchite01thomrich_djvu.txt
To learn more about Church, check out Gardens Are for People and Thomas Church, Landscape Architect: Designing a Modern California Landscape, by Marc Treib.
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Front yard: mid-century ranch
Full sun to quite sunny
Soil: well-drained (either sandy or well-drained clay loam
Plants appropriate for climate change
Challenges: Limited area – size Small house/lot – scale must
be appropriate Horizontal lines of house House front relatively plain –
can use plants as accents
© Project SOUNDhttp://www.kriselconnection.com/2015_07_01_archive.html
"The psychology of arrival is more important than you think. If it is not obvious where to park, if there is no room to park when you get there, if you stumble into the back door looking for the front entrance, or if the entrance is badly lighted, you have subjected your guests to a series of annoyances which will linger long in their subconscious. No matter how warm your hearth or how beautiful your view, the overall effect will be dimmed by these first irritations.“
Thomas Church© Project SOUND
Choose your largest plant first
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There are a few possibilities
Local native shrubs (pruned up) Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) Lemonadeberry (Rhus
integrifolia)
Some of the smaller desert wash species Desert ceanothus (Ceanothus
greggii) Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea)
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Bladderpod – Peritoma arborea/Cleome isomeris/Isomeris arborea
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Bladderpod – Peritoma arborea
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Isomeris+arborea
CA, AZ and Baja
Literally from the shore to the eastern deserts in S. California
Wide habit distribution Hills, bluffs, stabilized dunes - sea coast Hills and desert washes at the desert edges.
CA’s only member Caper family (Capparaceae)
http://nativeplants.csuci.edu/peritoma-arborea.htm © Project SOUND
Size: 2-10 ft tall (usually 3-6 ft) 3-6+ ft wide
Growth form: Woody shrub; spreading shape Develops interesting gnarled
branches with age – very decorative (like bonsai tree)
Moderate growth rate; moderately long-lived (30+ years in Zone 1-2 or 2)
Foliage: Medium-textured Light gray-green; nice color Unusual odor when crushed Drought deciduous
Roots: long taproot – don’t move once established
Characteristics of Bladderpod
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© Project SOUND
Bladderpod’s flowers and pods are fantastic Blooms:
A little bit year-round Feb-May is main bloom season in
coastal lowlands
Flowers: Unusual and showy – many
flowers at one time Bright yellow, bell-shaped;
exserted anthers (male parts) very attractive to bees (it’s
main pollinators) and hummingbirds
Seeds: Inflated, bladder-like pod Large seeds; may reseed if
happy© Project SOUND
Bladderpod is well suited for the water-wise garden
Soils: Texture: must be well-drained;
likes a sandy or rocky soil pH: any local, including very
alkali
Light: full sun
Water: Winter: resents too much
water; may need to plant on berm if drainage is poor
Summer: Zone 1-2 to 2 (will retain leaves); very drought tolerant – don’t over-water!!
Fertilizer: none
tolerates seaside conditions (salt-spray; wind) but will be smaller, shorter
Rejuvenate an old plant by coppicing
© Project SOUND
Bladderpod in gardens As an accent plant in full sun to
part-shade
As a background shrub
As a small ‘tree’ – very interesting, architectural shape
http://canativegarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/wild-uci.html
Both flowers and pods/seeds are edible
Flowers: Cooked in hot water for hours to
leach bitterness; then fried with onions and used as topping
Eaten raw as a garnish.
Seed pods: Pods: used as capers – dried,
then pickled in vinegar, brine, wine or salt.
Pods can also be eat raw as garnish (spicy)
Seeds: can be boiled (15 minutes is recommended) and eaten as peas.
© Project SOUND
http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-great-culinary-caper.html
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© Project SOUND
*Desert ceanothus – Ceanothus greggii
©2010 James M. Andre
From Trans-Pecos, TX, through s. NM, AZ and southern California, north to the Great Basin region of UT and NV and south to Oaxoaxa, Mexico
var. vestitus: desert margin of the s. Sierra Nevada & Transverse ranges, as well as parts of UT, NV, AZ, TX, NM and Mexico
Note: some taxonomic debate on CA species
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*Desert ceanothus – Ceanothus greggii
©2012 Gary A. Monroe ©2010 James M. Andre
http://www.swsbm.com/Maps/Ceanothus_greggii.gif
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Desert ceanothus: shrub to small tree
Size: 4-7+ ft tall 4-8 ft wide
Growth form: Woody shrub/small tree Mounded, ceanothus shape Red-gray bark
Foliage: Sclerophyllus leaves – small,
thick, waxy coat; unique Evergreen; growth in spring
Roots: Shallow to about 10 ft Nitrogen-fixing nodules
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Sweet ceanothus flowers Blooms: in early spring – Jan-Mar.
in our area in usual year
Flowers: Typical flowers for Ceanothus:
small, 5 spade-shaped petals Usually white; may be light
blue Sweet scent – really nice
fragrance; attract pollinators Flowers make a nice, mild,
fragrant soap/shampoo
Fruits: rounded, sticky – birds eat seeds
Vegetative reproduction: none
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© Project SOUND
Perfect for dry garden Soils:
Texture: well-drained best; berm if not sure
pH: any but very alkali
Light: Full sun is best; light shade
probably OK
Water: Winter: needs adequate Summer: once or twice a month
(Water Zone 1-2 or 2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: mulch: none, gravel or thin
organic Can prune up for tree – has nice
shrub shape otherwise
http://www.delange.org/CeanothusGregg/CeanothusGregg.htm
© Project SOUND
A good ceanothus for local gardens
Foundation shrub; background Informal hedge or tree Good habitat plant Low maintenance; tough –
tolerates heat & wind
http://prairiebreak.blogspot.com/2014/07/midsummer-garden-random-shots-from-two.html
Now we need some background shrubs
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Should be in scale with – and complement –the architecture
Climate-wise foundation (backdrop) shrubs
The boxthorns (Lycium species) Sagebrushes (Artemisia spp.) Goldenbushes (Ericameria; Hazardia
& others) The Fairydusters (Calliandra spp.) Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) Larger native grasses
© Project SOUND
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Wolfberry – Lycium andersonii
© 2005 James M. Andre
© Project SOUND
Wolfberry – Lycium andersonii
Plant of Southwestern deserts and desert foothills
Locally in Mojave Desert – tho’ a report from PV
Dry, stony hills, mesas in desert and creosote bush scrub – usually along washes
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7625,7636,7637
http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php?id=Lycium_andersonii
© Project SOUND
Wolfberry is a typical Boxthorn – all quite similar looking Size:
usually 4-6 ft tall; to 10-12 ft to 10 ft wide; slow – probably long-
lived, even in water-wise gardens
Growth form: Mounded woody shrub Very densely branched – good cover;
thorns
Foliage: Small, fleshy leaves – larger with some
water Very different look from other foliage
– nice accent plant
Roots: deep; surface roots also – typical desert shrub; re-sprouts after fire or major damage/pruning
Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND
Flowers make the desert bloom
Blooms: in spring (Mar-May); depends on timing of winter rains
Flowers: Purple to white Small – but very nice shape &
lots of them - showy Good hummingbird plant
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© Project SOUND
Easy to grow with benign neglect
Soils: Texture: must be well-drained –
sandy or gravelly is best pH: any local is fine Fine with salty soils, water,
maritime exposures
Light: Full sun is best Will take light shade (or some
afternoon shade) in hot gardens
Water: Winter: rains usually suffice;
don’t over-water in clay soils Summer: quite drought
tolerant; looks best in Zone1-2 to 2 in garden setting
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils –remember, it’s a desert plant
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lycium_andersonii
© Project SOUND
Garden uses for Boxthorns
Water-wise hedges As an accent plant; flowers &
foliage, red fruits As a container plant As all-round good habitat
plants: food, cover, nest sites.
© 1998 Larry Blakely
Limit our palette: size, density, other
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
*Big sagebrush – Artemisia tridentata
©2013 Jean Pawek
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© Project SOUND
*Big sagebrush – Artemisia tridentata
Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences
©2012 Jean Pawek
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?ARTR2
High Cascade, Inner South Coast, and Transverse Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Southern San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, Great Basin, Mojave Desert
Los Angeles Co.: San Gabriels; Antelope Valley; Lancaster/ Palmdale; Newhall
Dry soils, valleys, slopes below 9,000'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_tridentata
© Project SOUND
Big sagebrush: nice foliage shrub Size:
3-6+ (to 8 in garden) ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Growth form: Irregularly mounded shrub Thick, woody trunk: gray bark Moderate growth rate; lives 50+
years; good cover for creatures
Foliage: Evergreen; can be dense Color: nice gray-green Leaves small, lobed, aromatic (the
smell of the Wild West)
Roots: deep taproot + shallow laterals – very drought adapted
©2013 Lynn Watson
© Project SOUND
Flowers are understated
Blooms: in summer – July to Sept.
Flowers: Small, simple heads (like CA
Sagebrush) Insect pollinated – attracts
a range of insects
Seeds: Small and not particularly
showy – edible and good food for birds
©2013 Jean Pawek © Project SOUND
Plant Requirements Soils: Texture: well-drained best pH: any local except alkali
Light: full sun
Water: Winter: adequate winter rain –
supplement if needed (needs 10-18 inches per year)
Summer: best with occasional (Water Zone 1-2 to 2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: Looks best with a little winter
pruning (tips – not into old-wood) Prune out old branches
periodically, if desired, to rejuvenate
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© Project SOUND
Big sagebrush
As a larger alternative to CA Sagebrush
As a foundation or background plant In silvery, scented or habitat gardens Hot, dry slopes
http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/sagebrush-in-a-garden/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/71776187783339879/
Limit our palette: but add seasonal interest
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
* Pink Fairy Duster – Calliandra eriophylla
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAER© Project SOUND
* Pink Fairy Duster – Calliandra eriophylla
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAER
http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php?id=Calliandra_eriophylla
http://www.saguaro-juniper.com/i_and_i/flowers/fairy_duster/fairy_duster.html
Sonoran Desert from CA & Baja to W. Texas
Dry, gravelly slopes & mesas ; often in beds of intermittent streams, bajadas, washes, etc. - rocky, sandy
In Spanish, Cabeza de angel refers to an angel's head or angel's hair
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© Project SOUND
Pink Fairyduster is a nice sized accent shrub Size:
3-5+ ft tall (depends on water) 4-6+ ft wide
Growth form: Woody shrub Mounded/upright to sprawling;
can grow around existing shrubs
Light-colored bark
Foliage: Bright to medium green Binnately pinnate – small pinna
(like Acacia)
Roots: nitrogen-fixing bacteria; rhizomatous – will slowly spread
http://www.public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/calliandraeriophylla.html
http://www.fourdir.com/p_fairy_duster.htm© 2005 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy
© Project SOUND
Flowers: ooh-la-la!! Blooms:
Just after the rains - usually Jan-Apr in Western L.A. Co.
Will bloom off and on depending on watering schedule
Flowers: Pink: bright to very pale The long, pink filaments of
the stamens that make the showy display
Plant has a fluffy pink appearance in full bloom
Big attraction for large butterflies & hummingbirds!
http://www.sagebud.com/fairyduster-calliandra-eriophylla/
http://www.calflora.net/losangelesarboretum/whatsbloomingmay07C.html
© Project SOUND
A plant of desert washes Soils: Texture: loves sandy/rocky soils
but fine in any well-drained pH: any local
Light: Full sun for best flowering Will take light shade
Water: Winter: needs adequate Summer:
Best looking with occasional water (Zone 1-2 or 2) but very drought tolerant
Some water in Aug.
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils; inorganic mulch
Glenn and Martha Vargas © California Academy of Sciences © Project SOUND
Showy accent plant As a foundation plant A water-wise accent shrub As an informal hedge – or for
erosion control on slopes Even in large containers Consider for Asian or Desert-
themed gardens
http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Calliandra_eriophylla.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36517976@N06/4307505066/
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Shaping Fairydusters Have a good natural shape – can
leave as is
Tip-prune during growing season to produce fuller shrub
Lightly prune to shape in late spring
© Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36517976@N06/4307505066/
http://www.avondale.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=1346&return=b_aChttp://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/caleri.htm
California buckwheat (Eriogonumfasciculatum) – very drought tolerant
© Project SOUND
© Project SOUND
* Apache Plume – Fallugia paradoxa Desert uplands from 3,500 to
7,500 feet
Throughout all four south-western deserts -- Mojave, Chihuahuan, Great Basin, and Sonoran
In CA, Joshua Tree Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Fallugia is a monotypic genus of shrub containing the single species Fallugia paradoxa
Introduced into cultivation in California by Theodore Payne; Avail even through Monrovia Nursery
© Project SOUND
* Apache Plume – Fallugia paradoxa
© 2009 Lee Dittmann
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6677,6721,6722
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© Project SOUND
Apache Plume: medium-large desert shrub Size:
4-8+ ft tall 5-10+ ft wide
Growth form: Semi-evergreen to evergreen
– depends on water Mounded form; many shrubby
slender branches – good cover for birds, etc.
Shreddy gray-brown bark
Foliage: Small, deeply-lobed leaves ‘fine textured’ appearance –
looks good with other shrubs
Roots: spreads by root suckering with abundant water
© 2007 Jason E. Willand
G.A. Cooper @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database © Project SOUND
Flowers and seeds are very showy
Blooms: in spring – April-June in our area
Flowers: Give a good clue that this plant
is in the Rose family 2 inch pure white flowers like a
wild rose – ooh la la Like a rose, attracts many
insects (butterflies, bees, etc.)
Seeds: Have fluffy tails – very showy
on the plant Fade from pink to gold as they
mature
© 2010 James M. Andre
© Project SOUND
Another desert wash plant Soils: Texture: likes a well-drained
soil, but pretty adaptable pH: any local
Light: full sun to part-shade –perfect for hedgerow
Water: Winter: supplement if needed Summer: likes occasional
summer water, but very drought tolerant when established – Water Zone 1-2 to 2 (about once a month)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: inorganic mulch or very thin organic
© 2009 Lee Dittmann
© 2006 Heath McAllister© Project SOUND
Gardeners are discovering Apache Plume
© 2002 Gary A. Monroe
© 2003 Charles E. Joneshttp://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/fallugia-paradoxa
http://www.nazflora.org/Fallugia_paradoxa.htm
As an accent plant in desert-themed gardens for beauty & habitat value
As a foundation shrub
In informal hedges/hedgerows
In very hot, dry situations (parking lots; roadways)
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Many desert shrubs are routinely ‘pruned’
© Project SOUNDhttp://slatermuseum.blogspot.com/2013/01/pacific-northwest-deer.html
Managing Apache Plume
Prune in late fall/winter
Prune to shape & promote blooms (blooms on new growth) Selective deep pruning of old
branches (3 years or older) Shortening of younger ones
(up to ½ of length)
Hedge pruning/tip pruning in summer – makes it neater, too
Prune to rejuvenate Cut oldest woody stems to the
ground to rejuvenate
© Project SOUND
http://desertedge.blogspot.com/2011/06/plant-trinity-abq-to-el-paso.html
Limit our palette: perhaps a little fall gold?
© Project SOUND
Limit our palette: summer/fall color
© Project SOUND
“Don’t fret if your garden is never quite perfect. Absolute perfection, like complete consistency, can be dull.”
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© Project SOUND
* Rubber Rabbitbush – Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa(Chrysothamnus nauseosus)
© 2003 Michael Charters
© Project SOUND
Two Coastal Goldenbushes
Similar growth habit and flowers; fall blooming (Aug-Oct) Coast Goldenbush: foliage lighter; leaves rounder, softer, Sawtooth Goldenbush: foliage stiffer, prickly
Coastal Goldenbush – Isocoma menziesii Sawtooth Goldenbush – Hazardia squarrosa
© Project SOUND
Mock Heather – Ericameria ericoides Large grasses can also be used as background plants
© Project SOUND
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© Project SOUND
*Giant sacaton – Sporobolus wrightii Southwestern California, Sonoran Desert to
TX, n. and central Mexico Dry prairies and rocky slopes to 7,000 feet Also found in wetland communities such as
desert marshes, playa lakes and on floodplains Occurs mainly in semi-desert grassland and
shrubland communities.
© Project SOUND
*Giant sacaton – Sporobolus wrightii
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?SPWR2
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=436
© Project SOUND
Giant sacaton: large but graceful
Size: 3-6+ (to 7-8 ft flowering) ft tall 4-6 ft wide
Growth form: Mounded bunchgrass Dies back in cool season (warm
season grass) Big, dramatic – but fine-textured
Foliage: Gray-green to medium green Dense – good cover for little
critters & birds Really attractive, esp. if cut back
yearly
http://www.plantdelights.com/Sporobolus-wrightii-for-sale/Buy-Big-Sacaton-Dropseed/ © Project SOUND
Dramatic flowering stalks
Blooms: in summer (seeds remain on plant through fall) - usually July-Aug.
Flowers: Typical small grass flowers,
but on great plume-like stalks Color starts green (with pink-
purple hint); ends yellow-gold in fall
Good looking for a long time
Seeds: Edible (but so small that birds
are most likely to benefit)
http://www.answers.com/topic/dudleya
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© Project SOUND
Very adaptable grass Soils: Texture: very adaptable pH: any local – very adaptable
Light: full sun to some shade
Water: Winter: needs adequate Summer: occasional to near-
regular water (Zones 1-2 to 2-3)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: For best appearance, prune
back to 6-8” each year in winter; use as straw mulch
No real pests or problems
© Project SOUND
Use instead of Pampas Grass As an attractive (large) pot plant For foundation or backdrop
plantings On slopes & other hard-to-water
places As a really big accent plant
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4DMG/Lawns/orna2.htm
http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=23686
http://kentonjseth.blogspot.com/2013_04_01_archive.html
Grasses and grass-like plants can also be used as dramatic accents
Yucca species Agave species Nolina species Larger grasses
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
*Mojave yucca – Yucca schidigera
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s Mojave Desert & nw Sonoran Deserts of AZ, CA, NV; Mexico (Baja California)
Common on dry rocky slopes, mesas and flats to about 5000‘
Primarily in Desert Chaparral and Creosote Bush Scrub plant communities
© Project SOUND
*Mojave yucca – Yucca schidigera
Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102075
© Project SOUND
Mojave yucca: fairly typical native yucca
Size: 2-6 ft tall (sometimes even taller in
gardens; tree-like) 2-3 ft wide, spreads by offsets (pups)
Growth form: Typical of yucca; semi-woody,
evergreen perennial ‘shrub’ (base/root become woody); 1-several stems
Slow; long-lived (100’s of years in wild
Foliage: Bayonet-shaped leaves with sharp tips
and stringy fibers Foliage at tips of stems
Roots: fairly shallow
© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
© Project SOUND
Fantastic flowers Blooms: early spring – usually
March/April; May in colder areas
Flowers: Typical bell-shaped pendant
yucca flowers – but very large (to 1 ½ inches)
Pollinated by yucca moth (Tegeticula yuccasella)
Flowers edible
Seed pods: Large and fleshy (2-4 inches) Seeds large, flat, dark – easy to
grow from seed
Vegetative reproduction: yes
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=YUSC2
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/imagelib/imgdetails.php?imgid=245774
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yucca_schidigera_27.jpg
Like the Banana yucca, flowers & fruits are edible
Flowers: Eaten raw or cooked Dried flowers can be ground and
used as a flavoring agent for baked products, beverages, jelly
Fruits Eaten either fresh, roasted/
baked or prepared and dried for later use
Fruits can also be cooked to make tasty jelly or syrup
Young flowering stems Chopped and cooked like
asparagus or baked like a sweet potato
© Project SOUND
http://www.desertusa.com/cactus/mohave-yucca.html
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© Project SOUND
Typical Mojave/Sonoran Desert conditions
Soils: Texture: most local soils ok –
sandy or rocky best pH: any local; fine with alkali
Light: full sun (best); can tolerate some afternoon shade
Water: Winter: needs at least 6-8
inches per winter Summer: very drought tolerant
once established; none to occasional (Water Zone 1 or 1-2)
Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
Other: best with no mulch or inorganic (gravel/rock)
Sherry Ballard © California Academy of Sciences © Project SOUND
Yucca: dramatic accent As an attractive container plant in
modern landscapes With other CA desert species –
even as tall groundcover In a medicinal or edible garden Important habitat plant in its
native range
http://www.alternativeeden.com/2014/02/botanical-garden-of-barcelona.html
Limit our palette: but add seasonal interest
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND
* Banana Yucca – Yucca baccata
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© Project SOUND
Dramatic accent Desert-themed or rock gardens As a spiny deterrent plant Large containers Habitat or edibles garden Where ever you would plant a
Yucca or Agave
http://unkowndestination.blogspot.com/2012/08/yucca-review-yucca-baccata-banana-yucca.html
http://coldhardycactus.com/Pages/YU003.htm http://www.sm.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24551&return=l1 © Project SOUND
* Bigelow’s Beargrass/Nolina – Nolina bigelovii
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nolina_bigelovii
Hillsides and canyons of Southeastern California, western Arizona, S. NV, Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.
Desert hillsides, Creosote Bush scrub –often in very dry areas of Mojave & Sonoran Deserts
Especially prevalent along the Lower Colorado River Valley
© Project SOUND
* Bigelow’s Beargrass/Nolina – Nolina bigelovii
©2006 Aaron Schusteff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolina_bigelovii
http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/detail.php?id=ASDM01221&sp=Nolina bigelovi © Project SOUND
Nolina: nice accent Nice accent plant in any dry
garden Right at home in desert gardens,
rock gardens, hot places Leaves used green or bleached in
basketry; young flowers stalks can be baked and eaten
http://www.delange.org/BeargrassBig/BeargrassBig.htm
http://gallery.cvetq.info/displayimage.php?album=267&pos=4
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Limit palette: but add foreground interest
© Project SOUND
“A garden should have no beginning and no end, and should be pleasing when seen from any angle, not only from the house.”
Smaller desert flowering shrubs also make great accent plants
© Project SOUND
Desert mallow - SphaeralceaMirabilis multiflora
© Project SOUND
* Indian Mallow – Abutilon palmeri
© Project SOUND
* Indian Mallow – Abutilon palmeri
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Abutilon+palmeri
Native to the low desert of S. California, on the eastern slopes of the peninsular range
Riverside, Orange & San Diego Co. Sonoran Desert Colorado Desert San Jacinto Mtns
Dry east-facing mountain slopes, creosote bush scrub, elevation: 1800-2400'
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© Project SOUND
Indian Mallow is grown for it’s foliage Size:
4-8 ft tall 3-5 ft wide
Growth form: sub-shrub Woody base; portion of
branches are herbaceous Rounded shrub
Foliage: Light green/silvery white Velvety-soft to the touch Leaves have attractive,
rounded shape Will die back with very low
temperatures, but will recover
© Project SOUND
Flowers are a lovely contrast to the foliage
Blooms: Mainly spring/summer – may also
bloom in fall usually Apr-June in S. Bay Long flowering period (at least 8
weeks)
Flowers: Bright golden yellow; almost
iridescent Shape: typical for family, but
a bit more ‘poppy-like’
Attract many visitors: Butterflies, hummingbirds, others Rabbits like the foliage
© Project SOUND
The seed pods are unusual & showy
Unusual wheel shape Remain on the plant a long
time – very unique & showy Birds love the seeds Note: will hybridize with
other native mallows Will self-sow abundantly;
repot and give to friends
http://www.hazmac.biz/040216/040216AbulilonPalmeri.html © Project SOUND
is well suited to the water-wise garden Soils:
Texture: any well-drained, but partial to coarser textures
pH: any local Light:
Full sun best: keeps nice, rounded shape
Tolerates some shade/ afternoon shape
Tolerates reflected heat Water:
Winter: needs winter rains; plant next to a rock to hold moisture
Summer: Zone 2 (best); tolerates 1-2 to 2-3
Fertilizer: none
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© Project SOUND
Indian Mallow adds interest to many gardens
As a specimen shrub – be sure to plant where kids can appreciate the texture
In a habitat garden
Along a hot wall
Anywhere you need a nice shrub – very shapeable
Great with other water-wise native like Salvias, Penstemons, Eriorgonums, Ceanothus
http://www.delange.org/MallowSuperstition/MallowSuperstition.htm
Photo © Copyright Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
Like many desert shrubs, the look can range from informal to formal
The key to the look is pruning
© Project SOUND
In summary: we’ve had a quick introduction to Mid-century Modern gardens
© Project SOUND
We’ve seen how contemporary garden design is influence by 1950’s designers
Unity
Function
Simplicity
Scale
© Project SOUND
http://www.midcenturymodernremodel.com/2012/06/landscaping-disaster-post-mid-century.html
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And we’ve seen that climate-appropriate plants can be easily incorporated into
Mid-century Modern gardens
© Project SOUNDhttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/193303008982523204/
Next month: Katherine Brandegee
© Project SOUND
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/archon/?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=1