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Sustainable Landscaping in Sacramento

by | Nov 18, 2007 | Uncategorized

I had an opportunity to tour several sustainable landscapes in Sacramento last Friday with Dave Roberts, a local landscape contractor specializing in sustainable landscaping. Accompanying us was front yard garden advocate Sue Jennings of Sustainable Urban Gardens. After a yummy lunch at La Bou (thanks, Dave), Dave whisked us over to several of his clients’ homes in Land Park and East Sacramento that have been re-landscaped by his company, Roberts Landscape. I’m a proponent of sustainable landscaping and told Dave I’d love to see some of his gardens up close. He graciously obliged even though he’s obviously a very, very busy guy!

Another term that’s been coined for sustainable landscaping in Sacramento, AKA River City, is “River-Friendly landscaping”.

What does “sustainable” or “River-Friendly” landscaping mean exactly? It can mean extra attention has been paid to selecting native, drought-tolerant or wildlife-attracting plants. It can also mean efforts have been made to reduce runoff from gardens into local waterways, or that soil health is preserved and that unnecessary use of pesticides is avoided. It may also mean the ubiquitous front lawn has been reduced or replaced, and that water-guzzling foundation shrubs have been replaced with River-Friendly plants.


Pink Muhly, Mexican bush sage, lantana, manzanita, etc.

As outlined by the River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines handbook, here are the main principles of a River-Friendly garden:

1. Landscape Locally
2. Landscape for Less to the Landfill
3. Nurture the Soil
4. Conserve Water
5. Conserve Energy
6. Protect Water & Air Quality
7. Create & Protect Wildlife Habitat


Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)

I really admire the fact that contractors like Dave and neighborhood advocates like Sue are working tirelessly to educate the public about the need for River-Friendly landscapes in the Sacramento region. Our dry summers, history of droughts lasting well into the “rainy season”, and prevalence of runoff-sensitive creeks, lakes and rivers signal that it’s time to embrace this new style of landscaping.

It’s been time to embrace our Mediterranean climate, especially since Assembly Bill 2572 was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Bill gave us mandatory water meters and fees “based on the actual volume of deliveries, as measured by a water meter”. You’ll see that River-Friendly garden owners are watering less, but you’ll also see the abundance of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds in their yards. And, hello… flowers!

Gardens can look lush without a lawn. Houses without front lawns can please the neighbors, as evidenced by the fact that several neighbors went River-Friendly after the first Robert’s Landscape garden went in. From a gardener’s perspective, it’s just great to see something other than flat green rectangular lawns (yawn) set against the same old boxy hedges (yawn).

Whether you like a serene and formal mass of ground-hugging foliage plants… or an informal riot of color, an ever-expanding palette of River-Friendly plants provides exciting options for creating a garden that is both sustainable and aesthetically appealing.

[Landscape design (on left) by Luciole Design Inc.]

If you want to learn more about River-Friendly landscaping, Dave Roberts will be giving a seminar at the Northern California Home & Landscape Expo at CalExpo on Saturday, January 26. You will also be able to see a River-Friendly demonstration garden at the expo.

Seminar: River-Friendly Landscaping
A Holistic Approach to Your Yard
Dave Roberts, River-Friendly EcoLandscape Group
Date: Saturday, January 26
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Pavilion Building

When you’re ready to make the switch to a River-Friendly garden, read the handbook online , visit the SacGardens.org website, or order a hard copy of the handbook. The handbook is chock full of recommendations and resources, including Roberts Landscape. Your garden could look like one of the beautiful, River-Friendly gardens pictured above!

Now you see ’em…

by | Nov 16, 2007 | Uncategorized


‘Sungold’ tomatoes in November

… soon you won’t. As November weather goes, this has been a warm one. In fact, I haven’t even pulled some of my summer veggies yet. See my ‘Sungold’ tomatoes? They’re still tasty and going strong, even though I’ve switched to cool-season crops and frost will come. Soon, I must remind myself.


Persian shield, coleus, cuphea, cyclamen, etc.

I planted the same plants in these front porch pots, but varying sun exposure favored the tropical looking Persian shield on the left and coleus on the right. I love both heat lovers and am happy to have memorial photos because soon they will be nothing but a mushy memory.


Dahlia imperialis

My tree dahlias– which I’m renaming two-story dahlias because they’re 20 feet tall– have a chance to bloom if these warm temps continue!

The garden is pretty much taking care of itself right now. It has to because I’m busy with Thanksgiving plans and other stuff.

Impatiens balfourii seed collecting

by | Nov 4, 2007 | Uncategorized

The last of my Impatiens balfourii plants, commonly called Poor Man’s Orchid, are going to seed. This somewhat obscure Himalayan annual has seed pods that, when ripe, explode when touched. That makes for some pretty challenging and often comical seed collecting.

My friend Weeder gave me seeds a few years ago and because I. balfourii is a reliable reseeder, I haven’t had to replant. Her mom planted seed many, many years ago on the family ranch in Carmichael and Weeder has cultivated them– or they’ve cultivated themselves– since taking over the property after her folks were gone. Since she took over the property, not the seeds. Now that she’s in the process of selling the place to a developer, we’re both collecting seed to save and share around.

I’ve gotten pretty good at catching seeds in my left hand while gently pinching a pod with my right hand at the point where the pod connects to the stem. That seems to be the trigger point. Weeder reported that she caught a fair number of seeds recently… in her hair. The rest made it into a paper bag.

I’m playing around with making custom seed packets using coin envelopes (Office Max, Office Depot, etc.) and printing my own labels.

I wondered if it would be easy to find I. balfourii seeds online and it’s not! Select Seeds doesn’t have them. Annie’s Annuals sells the plant, but not at this time. Thompson & Morgan? Nope. Johnny’s? Nope. J.L. Hudson? Nope. Hortus Botanicus? YES! I shouldn’t be surprised. This super coolest of nurseries in Fort Bragg, CA has lots of amazing plants.

On Dave’s Garden, two DG members want it and one has it for trade. I’d be interested in knowing if other garden bloggers are growing it and where they obtained seed. Did you buy it? Was it passed along by a friend or family member?

I suppose Poor Man’s Orchid could become invasive under the right circumstances, but unless you have nothing but shade and moist soil, it should remain a well-contained and welcome rarity. The plants are easy to pull but are so pretty that you won’t want to.

Meet one of my new favorite plants– Cuphea melvillea

by | Nov 2, 2007 | Uncategorized

Weeder gave me this Cigar Plant (Cuphea melvillea) for my birthday in July of ’06. Look how well it’s done in dappled sun next to the house. I love its tubular pinky yellow flowers and so do hummingbirds. I also love its height range of 4-6 ft. It’s kinda floppy and not at all formal which just makes me love it even more. We’re pretty sure it came from Windmill Nursery, but which grower? Annie’s? Blooms? Proven Winners? Where’s that damned plant tag?

January 16 edit: I now think this is C. micropetala.

Tree dahlia bud watch, 2007

by | Nov 2, 2007 | Uncategorized

My tree dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) have grown taller and taller each year. Yikes! Of my three main canes, one snapped but two remain. Threats against this November bloomer include wind and frost. Both fingers way crossed.

I’d like to train them to bloom a little lower to the ground, but I’m not sure of the best time to head them back.

Wish me luck!

Visit to the Sacramento Old City Cemetery Native Plant Demo Garden

by | Nov 1, 2007 | Uncategorized

As I sit in my living room recliner trying not to think about the fact that my fourteen-year-old boy is out wandering dark streets dressed– in a rather impromptu fashion– as a “frat boy”, complete with toga (bed sheet) and sideways tie-on-the-head… I welcome the distraction of blogging about why I spent a few hours Sunday at the Old City Cemetery.

When I was in college, I did an internship at the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Sacramento Chapter’s Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the cemetery. Having recently reconnected with my internship sponsor, she invited me to come by for one of their organized tours and asked if I’d take some pictures.


Seeds for sale, refreshments and literature


The tour


Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)

The demo garden is an interpretive garden designed to show the public how native plants can be grown in an urban environment and how they provide much-needed wildlife habitat. It’s a win-win situation because many of the plots being cared for by CNPS volunteers are no longer maintained by family members of the departed.


Woolly Blue curls (Trichostema lanatum) and Bush/Golden Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)

Many of the garden’s natives are attractive to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, creating a much-needed refuge right off busy Broadway and Riverside. Most of the natives are also extremely drought-tolerant and can exist on natural rainfall once established.


Bee on Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum)


Bird’s nest in a manzanita shrub


Aristolochia californica
Dutchman’s Pipe Vine


Epilobium canum
California fuchsia, Hummingbird Trumpet


Heteromeles arbutifolia
Christmasberry, Toyon, California Holly


Heteromeles arbutifolia ‘Davis Gold’
Yellow Berry Toyon

Gardeners and photographers love the cemetery because not only is it a very restful place– extremely restful… doesn’t get any more restful– it also contains a beautiful Historic Rose Garden, the CNPS Demo Garden and many very tenderly cared for plots exploding with life and color. And there’s history there. And events. It’s actually a pretty happenin’ place.

If you’re interested in Sacramento history, California native plants, or roses, it’s also a great place to volunteer.

Autumn in the garden

by | Oct 23, 2007 | Uncategorized


Coleus ‘Dipt in Wine’ (thank you, cloverann, for reminding me of the cultivar name)


Stock


Rumex, Heuchera and trailing snaps in my Target wall planter


Volunteer zinnia


Echeveria in a biodegradable rice hull pot


Amazing how a pressure washer revitalized my Costco-purchased teak outdoor dining set. Bonus points if you can spot the dog chew toy!


Hummingbirds have been loving my Salvia leucantha. It froze to the ground last winter.


Japanese anemone


Coleus ‘Royal Glissade’


My apple green chair planter is on its last legs (literally), but is hanging in there. I just replanted it with cool-season color.


Purple ornamental kale seems made for this pot I brought back from Mendocino