by Mel Kendall

On October 1, 2020 the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County and the City of Napa Parks & Recreation celebrated the groundbreaking of the Las Flores Learning Garden in Napa.  Starting with a small area, the garden will eventually extend over the entire property adjacent to the Las Flores Community Center. 

Crews began by clearing the debris and dead foliage, then scraping the ground to level the area. Ten yards of compost was added to amend the tilled soil in preparation for installation of the drip irrigation lines.  Finally, the newly installed irrigation system was covered with 4 inches of topsoil and all was ready for the plant material to be put in place.

Covid-19 restrictions prevented many Master Gardener volunteers from lending a hand to plant 200+ plants in late November, but small groups, working in shifts were able to install the plants within a 4-hour window.

The UC Master Gardeners will use this area of the garden to inform and educate the Community with research-based information on the care and maintenance of each particular type of vegetation.

Educational materials are being created daily and will soon be loaded onto the UCMG public website https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgnapa/  Las Flores Learning Garden page. We hope you stop by the facility and check out the information on our website to get the full benefit from this wonderful addition to our beautiful valley. 

Following are the plants that are featured in our low-water, low-maintenance, color all year section of the new UC Master Gardener Las Flores Learning Garden.

Arbutus unedo
Strawberry Madrone
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/arbutus-unedo
Lagerstroemia indica 'Catawba'
Crape Myrtle
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/lagerstroemia-indica-catawba
Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
Kaleidoscope Abelia
https://www.sunsetwesterngardencollection.com/the-collection/plant/kaleidoscope
Arctostaphylos edmundsii
Little Sur Manzanita
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-edmundsii
Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
Emerald Carpet Manzanita
https://www.calfloranursery.com/plants/arctostaphylos-emerald-carpet
Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'
Meyerei fern
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=241940
Cornus sericea 'Olive and Gold'
Yellow Twig Dogwood
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c330
Loropetalum chinense
Red Loropetalum
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=263296
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Pink Muhly Grass
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b457
Olea Europa 'Little Ollie'
Little Ollie olive
https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1894/little-ollie-dwarf-olive
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Star Jasmine
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a155

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: Plans by UC Master Gardeners of Napa County