Wild Natives

Mushrooms

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:52 +0000

With the cooler weather of Winter and hopefully a bit of rain come little, wonderful mushrooms. I am fascinated by the diversity that exists in the gardens I care for. The following pictures are a small example of what is sometimes hidden just below our feet.

Seeing mushrooms in your garden can be a fun sign that your soil is in good health. Mushrooms indicate that there is a sufficient mycelial network underground connecting plant roots to the water and nutrients they need to support vigorous growth. Maintaining these connections is important. The best way to do so is by not disturbing the soil more than you have to, allowing leaf litter to break down on the surface of the soil, and by applying mulch.

When installing a new planting, native or otherwise, I always recommend mulching with small sized wood chips. These chips break down slowly and provide food for growing mycelia. Special inoculants can be purchased and applied to achieve the same results. Applying the mycelia directly to the roots of new plants gives them a better chance at survival.

Unfortunately, mushrooms can also be a sign of soil that is waterlogged. Most mushrooms in our area show themselves during the rainy season, so if you see mushrooms during the dry season, they are most likely an indicator that something is wrong. Your plants are probably showing signs of stress as well. Solving the problem can be as simple as letting the area dry out more frequently and as complicated as starting over.

No matter how you look at it, mushrooms perform a necessary function in the environment. Without them we would struggle to get anything to grow in our gardens. It may take a new garden many years to settle in and become its own ecosystem, but with the help of mushrooms, it will surely happen.

The Virtues of Coffeeberry

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:04:40 +0000

This is the time of year when I really appreciate evergreen shrubs in the garden. They provide structure to the constant change and excitement of the blooming perennials and annuals, which are preparing for dormancy as the days grow shorter. With the exuberance of summer winding down, the reliable evergreen shrubs take center stage. One of my favorites is Coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica. During the summer it becomes covered in tiny yellow flowers attracting all manner of insects and is usually buzzing with activity when the sun is out.

As summer turns to fall, Coffeeberry begins to produce its berries. The color of the berry begins as a vibrant red and eventually becomes a deep purple before falling off or being eaten by wildlife. The berries do this individually, so a single bush can be covered in a variety of colors. Another reason to appreciate the Coffeeberry is that it always seems to produce fresh leaves. The new leaves flush on a reddish stem and have shades of green with yellow highlights.

The Coffeeberry plant requires very minimal care. It requires little water once established and pruning only to maintain a desired size. While Coffeeberry may not be the show-stopper that draws all of the attention in your garden, you will find yourself appreciating its quiet reliability more and more each year. Your show-stopping plants would be lost without it.

Holiday Wreaths

admin — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:06:15 +0000

Winter is the perfect time to turn your tree prunings into holiday art! This year I spent some time making wreaths out of native plants like California Bay, Toyon, Redwood, Oak, and Pine. I also used some of our most invasive weeds like Cotoneaster, Eucalyptus and Privet, with the thought of doing my part to help reduce their populations. Every little bit helps! Other plant options are edibles like the Culinary Bay, Thyme or Rosemary. They can be useful all year as dried herbs for delicious and healthy dinners. Attatch a bow and hang it from your door or send it to a friend. Fun!