Re: help for a problem area?
- Subject: Re: help for a problem area?
- From: G* K*
- Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 22:35:43 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "barbara sargent" <rsgt@california.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 11:07 AM
Subject: help for a problem area?
> I have a strip of garden which runs east and west along the division
> between us and our neighbor on the south side of our house. The neighbor's
> side has a hage, multi-trunked redwood tree which begins around 5 feet
from
> the fence, through whose branches only heavy rains penetrate. There's also
> lots of redwood debris covering the very dry earth. On the more eastern
> part of this strip I have a hybrid musk rose which does well, a Bloomfied
> Dainty rose which I just put in last winter, some coast iris which has
> become invasive and there are Oriental poppies which have been there
before
> we lived here which has been for the last 32 years. Beyond that point, for
> the last 25 or so feet I haven't found anything that will do well except
> Japanese anemones which I don't want because they take over. Oh, yes, I
> didn't mention that I put in three clivia which I thought would do well
but
> don't bloom (one bloomed once) and which I'm afraid to move because I've
> read that they don't like that.
>
> The paradox of this area is that although there's deep shade for much of
> the day, especially in winter, there can also be occasional bursts of
> intense sun from the west in the afternoon. So--I have shade, dryness and
> bits of very hot sun in the same area.
>
> Does anyone have suggestions for things I could grow here that would look
> good and wouldn't need an inordinate amount of irrigation? I was wondering
> about a salvia Waverly for one.
>
> This little strip of ground is located in the central Berkeley flats.
>
> Thanks for any ideas.
>
> Barbara
>
Dear Barbara,
How about Columbine? Maybe Aquilegia formosa or Western Columbine. It
is quite tough and can make it through some periods of drought. Also worth
mentioning are: Aquilegia eximia or Serpentine Columbine (available at Cal
Flora Nursery in Fulton, CA) and Aquilegia pubescens or Sierra Columbine.
Some other plants that come to mind are: Symphorocarpus sp. or
Snowberries, Ribes sanguinium 'Claremont' or Current, Holodiscus discolor or
Ocean Spray, Satureja douglasii or Yerba Buena, Oxalis oregana or Redwood
Sorrel, Fragaria californica or Woodland Strawberry, Horkelia californica
or Honeydew (I really adore this plant), or maybe just get totally wild and
try a Styrax californica or California Snowball Tree.
Of course the possibilities are endless, perhaps others out there will
have some better suggestions. Good luck.
Regards, Tim Kalman
