Re: No Summer Water

I live in coastal Los Angeles and have a north slope that receives no summer water, or as you put it, the occasional hose.   The soil is heavy and the plants benefit from the six months of shade in winter.  (The house is at the top of the slope.)  I had thought to plant natives but most of them can't tolerate the conditions, so almost all of the plants are from other Mediterranean climates.  There are shrubs, sub-shrubs and also various bulb areas which have increased in size over the years.  I try to avoid bare ground as then there are more weeds.  There are lots of Amaryllis belladonna.  I have some of the old-fashioned pink ones, and some deep rose, pure white, white with yellow centers, and little un-named hybrids.  Also Tulipa saxatilis, Sea Squill, etc.  I leave their dry leaves in place to prevent having a germination area for weed seeds. I used to keep it weed-free and it was more gardenesque, but now I can't do that any more so it looks like a wild area with unusual plants.  Right now what's blooming down there is Salvia Pozo Blue, Coriothymus capitatus, Zauschneria  (Epilobium) 'Hurricane Point", and a big Rosa mutabilis.

Cathy
On Jul 26, 2008, at 8:24 AM, Ben Wiswall wrote:
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone on this list-serve has a garden that really receives no summer water, or only water from the occasional hose.  As we are entering the dog days, how does it look?  Does it look like, well, a garden?  Is the ground more-or-less covered with greenery, or is it mostly bare or mulched ground?
I'm concerned about water use in an arid land, and I have a small chaparral garden at our home which now in its third year receives very little summer water,and it looks OK, even in its summer quietude.  I would feel a bit deprived and thirsty, however, if the entire garden looked the same. 
What are anyone else's experiences gardening with or without water?
-Ben Wiswall
Simi Valley, CA

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