Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 12

In Our Garden: Rhamnus Calif Leatherleaf, aka Coffeeberry

How can you not like a plant named Coffeeberry? Too bad it’s not really a coffee bean plant. I first saw this plant several years ago when we were on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. It was a full grown bush, taller than me, in full bloom and just gorgeous. I knew I wanted one someday. Now we have seven of them. The berries start out green, go to red, then black. Alas, they are not edible. This bush is good for birds and butterflies.

Rhamnus Calif Leatherleaf, Coffeeberry

In Our Garden: Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’

Advertent readers will know why I’m partial to a plant called Verbena. If you don’t know, go read my book, Moon Over Donamorgh.

Yes, Seamus would be proud that I have Verbena in my garden. It’s a lovely and delicate plant already blooming with tiny purple flowers. The flowers are edible and I just may try them. Verbena is also a favorite of bees and butterflies. Look very closely in the center of this photograph to see one of the flowers. It’s a bit washed out in the photo.

Verbena Lilacina d...

In Our Garden: Baccharis pilularis pilularis, aka Dwarf Coyote Bush

No, that’s not a mistake in the name – there really are two “pilularis” there. Perhaps to indicate the dwarf variety? It’s a guess. We’ve actually had this plant in our yard for over 30 years and it’s still going strong. Gets a little leggy, so needs pruning. I don’t think ours is the dwarf plant, which are supposed to stay a little cleaner close to the ground. These bushes are pollinators, but they’re more toward the harsh side of things, such as predator wasps, native flies, and beetles. Bu...

In Our Garden: Salvias

I’m calling “uncle!” on the Salvias. Once again my problem is not finding good enough pictures online to compare to the plants in my yard. I’m also not entirely sure I’m seeing a difference between some plants. Confusion reigns. Luckily the landscaper will be coming by sometime and I can narrow some of this down.

That said, I’m sort of sure (notice the waffling…) that this is Salvia sonomensis,Creeping Sage. The invoice calls it Fremonts Carpet, but when I Google that I get sonomensis, so I t...

In Our Garden: Salvia Apiana, aka White Sage

Saliva is one of those plants I’m having a hard time differentiating. We have six varieties according to the invoices, and they all have gray-green or gray-white leaves and no flowers yet. The flowers may make it easier to tell them apart. I do know which is white sage because the landscaper pointed it out to me. However the invoice says we have five, while I can only find three. There are two other possibilities since I read that younger plants have crinkly gray-green leaves that change to s...

In Our Garden: Trichostema Midnight Magic

With a name like ‘Midnight Magic’ this plant is perfect for wishing everyone a happy Samhain or Halloween celebration. It’s a very pretty plant in our new garden, and is already attracting hummingbirds to its delicate purple flowers.

Trichostema, Midnight Magic

In Our Garden: HEUCHERA Santa Ana Cardinal

At this early point of our garden’s existence, the many Santa Ana Cardinals we have are just a few inches high, looking snug and tiny in their little plant holes. They have beautiful dark green leaves that remind me of geranium leaves. They’ll grow to be a couple of feet tall and have red flowers – should be gorgeous. They are planted all over the front yard, so will really brighten up the neighborhood. They promise to bring hummingbirds.

Heuchera Santa Ana Cardinal, October 2015

In Our Garden: MUHLENBERGIA RIGENS, aka Deer Grass

Here’s a plant that looks ready-made for the desert.The main part of the plant can get to 3 feet tall, with the flower stems the go up to 3 feet past that. The flowers are tiny buds that run most of the length of the stem. This plant needs no water at all in summer and is a great attractor of butterflies and bees. We have 25 plants in front and back yards.

Deer Grass, October 2015

In Our Garden: ARCTOSTAPHYLOS, aka Manzanita

Manzanita is a favorite of both of us. We love the soft, smooth, red wood and the happy contrasting green leaves. They flower as well, although I’m not sure I’ve seen that. However, now that we have 24 of these gorgeous plants in our yard, I’m sure I’ll see the flower eventually! Manzanitas can vary in height, from a small 1 foot to the tree-size 7 or 8 feet. We have five varieties planted and it will interesting to see their differences. Right now, as usual, I can’t quite tell which plant is...

In Our Garden: IRIS DOUGLASIANA, aka Iris Canyon Snow

This one is going to be pretty, and happily, we have several. Right it’s rather plain, but it’s straight, bright green leaves are still striking:

Iris Canyon Snow, October 2015

Being an iris, it should give us spectacular flowers in the spring. Being a California native, it doesn’t require a lot of water. ICS should attract butterflies and bees.