Re: 'dry sticks'

Barry -

This reminds me of a fellow in Oakland, and enthusiastic native plant
promoter.  The trouble is, the garden he is constantly dragging people to see
as an example (his own) is hideous!!  Talk about dry sticks!  Even at the
lushest time of year, his garden looks like 'dry sticks'!  I think he has
single-handedly turned off more people to native plant gardening than anyone I
know!

I am so glad for the recent books on California native plants:
California Native Plants for the Garden
http://gimcw.org/books/cnpftg.cfm
Native Tresures
http://gimcw.org/books/ntgwtpoc.cfm
California's Wild Gardens: A Guide to Favorite Botanical Sites
http://gimcw.org/books/cwgpf.cfm

Next time you get the 'dry stick's business, shove one of these in front of
their faces and you won't have to say a word!

Seán O.

> On 5/8/07, Barry Garcia wrote:
>
> Most people associate xeriscapes or native gardens with "Oh, you mean
> those dry sticks?" I've heard this from two separate people. One guy I
> know was complaining about how difficult it can be sometimes to have a
> nearly all tropical-esque garden, and when I had mentioned why not
> using a backbone of interesting natives he screeched about how
> everything native turns to "ugly dry sticks!" Of course, he also kept
> complaining I wasn't doing my share of promoting his website when I'd
> mention this list off and on.
>
> Another was a coworker who, when I mentioned I was adding a natives
> and Mediterraneans (not 100% Xeriscape, a few areas have things like
> Spiraea douglasii), she give this look, and said with a rather
> disdainful tone in her voice "Oh, you mean those dry sticks?" I had to
> remind her that natives can look like dry sticks under drought stress
> or just in general in the middle of summer without a little
> supplemental moisture.
>
> I am constantly surprised when people complain about "Those dry
> sticks" when every single time I've been out in the chaparral here,
> and even the stuff still left around town on the borders, none of it
> is "dry sticks". I guess if it isn't hostas, annuals, and privet, it's
> "dry sticks".
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