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California freeway "wildflowers"

Hi Nan and Elly!

As I have said before we should petition CALTRANS. They are deficient in
both (1) not planting enough Cal natives and (2) not indicating by signs
what they have planted and where it comes from. They derive revenue from
companies who put up signs saying they are 'sponsoring' that particular
portio of freeway.

I am not totally opposed to the planting of some of the brilliant South
Africans (gazanias, lampranthus etc). They are highly attractive. However I
get frosted by the uneducated broadcasters that welcome them each year as
our 'spring flowers'. I am opposed to the stupid plantings of that heavy
iceplant Carpobrotus edulis. CALTRANS water it all year and when heavy
rains hit it the whole bank may be brought down. Why should they have to
choose something that they insist on watering all year and, as is the case
now, even when it rains? Please, let's use a little more imagination or
even better, a little intelligence.

Lastly, much luck on getting Oleanders removed. The centers of frreeways
are not exactly natural surroundings so the fact that you don't have
natives there is less of  a concern to me. They are there, as I understand,
because after freeeway accidents they recover more quickly than most other
plants. Also, the dense foliage blocks headlights from the other side of
the freeway. Remember, many of those central verges are irrigated and
irrigated a lot. That is why the oleanders grow so large so fast.
Oleanders are true med climate plants but because they originate in places
like river bottoms that are dry on the surface in summer and wet deeper
down they do like to get some water and respond mightily when applied.
Other than a plant like our lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia) I am not
familiar with many of our natives that would serve the same purpose, at
least not in these southern parts. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) might be
considered but I do not think it will stand the shearing needed and it is
subject to rust. Lemonadeberry is bullet-proof. It will take summer water
and grow quickly or it will take summer dought and stay put. Some will say
it is less colorful, so you will have that to fight.

Nan, welcome back. I hope you saw the square miles of California poppies as
you came back over the Grapevine. They were not put there by CALTRANS!

Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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