Summer here on the central coast of California (Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and Monterey County) brings a sense of awe to anyone who passes through, and inspiration to those of us lucky enough to call this place home. Although the green grasses of spring have given way to tawny browns and yellows, they provide the perfect contrast to showcase stands of grand oaks and graceful sycamores, shady glens with ferns and sage, and drying creek beds filled with tule and cattails. If you are a reluctant home gardener, now is the time to get outside and be inspired…because if a plant can grow and thrive in our summer heat, it just might be perfect for your low-water home landscape.
Most local residents will recall that the wild natural beauty of our area is what originally drew them to make this slice of paradise their home. Centuries ago, magnificent oak woodlands and grassy savannas grew alongside tough chaparral and lush riparian creek corridors teeming with wildlife large and small: black bear, mountain lion, deer and bobcats flourished with the abundant food sources and fresh water streams and rivers. Both the plants and animals evolved over thousands of years to develop their special relationships: they are all uniquely adapted to survive and thrive with our Mediterranean climate, unique soils, limited rainfall, steep slopes and shallow valleys.
Take a Hike, Cruise, Drive or Walk!We are luckier than most in California, since we can still experience these original landscapes right in our own backyard: take a hike on a mountain trail, cruise on a lake, or visit a state or federal park to get a glimpse of these natural vistas and their unique animal habitats. There are still Bald Eagles nesting here and black bears foraging for wild grapes in the hills, serving as a reminder that we all need to be responsible stewards of this land for them, as well as for our own children and grandchildren. Why not start at home? Is just takes some inspiration and motivation and you’ll be on your way!
Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and retail nursery, the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, and the Leaning Pine Arboretum at Cal Poly, or check out the Lompoc Valley Botanic and Horticultural Society and you’ll find gorgeous displays of drought tolerant plants and useful growing information. Just a few hardy Matilija poppies (in photo above taken at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden) will spread into a spectacular showy mass in a couple of years. Always learn how small or large a mature plant will become, what amount of sunlight or shade it needs, and how much water it needs to get established. Planting in the fall often produces more successful results than before the long hot summers, so now is the time to start planning and designing your new native gardens. Whether you grow flowers, veggies, or fruit, there are plenty of lessons we can learn from native plants and no better time to start than now!
Don’t give up on having a beautiful landscape!
Everyone is well aware of our on-going drought by now, and many of us will be re-evaluating our traditional gardening practices. But that doesn’t mean filling your yard with crushed rock! We really don’t need to look much further than our wild and natural areas for direction: we can learn how to make our yards and gardens more closely resemble nature. In this column, we will explore how many of our local home gardeners, organic farmers, and landscape designers are tackling this challenge. There are lovely examples of water-wise and naturalistic landscape designs throughout our area, and nurseries and growers are introducing more natives into the retail trade for homeowners to try. Feel free to share your favorite gardens, growing strategies, and sources of inspiration with us, and we just might feature them in future columns. Now grab your hat and gloves, and happy gardening!
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