by Barbara Campbell 

Like many gardeners, UC Master and otherwise, I've been busy in my yard these last five months.  In fact, I started last November, when I completely cleaned out a 100 foot square patch in my front yard for a California native garden.  I wanted to get the garden going, betting on a wet California winter to encourage the plants to set down roots.  Alas, Mother Nature had other plans:  we had an unusually dry winter, and it seemed as if my garden would never get established.  By the way, it took me a while to determine what "established" meant.  I had thought two, or maybe six, months.  No, the Farmer's Almanac said "two years."  Oh dear.

I had decided not to put in irrigation right away as I am an involved gardener, out almost every day, working.  But my hand watering couldn't keep up with the deep soakings the new plants needed, so I bought a soaker hose and gave the garden an hour soak once a week, in addition to my hand watering. Success! My little garden was now thriving

My second project was a neglected strip in my back yard.  I decided to keep the big mandevilla that was wrapping through my fence and adding sweetness to the yard. I cleaned out some old rocks, added some coral bells, and another project was done.

Next came a more involved project.  I have hated the square pavers and tiny bits of gravel on my patio ever since I moved in. My family members were constantly kicking the gravel loose, and the patio chair legs got stuck in the cracks.  I thought, "No reason why I can't tackle that."

This project was complex and almost broke my 70 year old body.  But what else did I have to do? I put on my kneepads and, one morning, slowly started lifting the pavers and moving the rocks. I could have hired help but I also thought I could do it myself. Just like the little engine that could, I kept at it, working every day. The first day I moved ten, then worked up to fifteen a day.  Three and half weeks and 142 pavers later, I have a new patio. Is it perfect? No. Is it finished? Not quite. I still need to fill in the sand. 

The rest of the summer has been spent  replacing old plants with new plants that seem very happy with all the butterflies and bees in my back yard. A honeysuckle vine and a lilac are wrapping around my trellis. 

One more project awaits me. I have wanted to put irrigation in my two large planter boxes for the last two years.  However, at the beginning of SAH, I threw in some wildflower seeds and let Nature take her course. Two tomato plants, cucumbers, a whole wall of morning glories, lots of basil and herbs later, I cannot bear to pull out my plants and put in irrigation. That will have to wait until November.

Garden on, my friends.

 

 

References:

Calif. Native Plant Society https://www.cnps.org/gardening    https://calscape.org/

Monrovia-Mandevilla https://plants.monrovia.com/search?w=Mandevilla

UC Davis Arboretum-coral bells https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant/rosada-coral-bells

UC Master Gardeners Sonoma Co- Honeysuckle http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Plant_of_the_Month/Lonicera/

UC Master Gardeners Solano Co- wandering lilac https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=29358

Master Gardeners are following recommended social distancing guidelines that keep everyone safe, Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Barbara Campbell