Preparing for Drought Tolerant Plants

Hi All!!

Wow, where the heck has the time gone?  I’ve been banging my head against the wall with a few projects… isn’t it always like that at the end?!  And then last week, I had a major case of “I-don’t-feel-like-it-s.”  You get that way sometimes, don’t you?

Anyhoo, what I have been doing is planning.  This year I really want to get the yard in order.  We live on almost an acre and the vast majority is hardscape.  The green stuff, well, it’s ok.  It’s really never been amazing and I so want amazing.  Do you see that drought tolerant garden above?!  Hello Nurse.  You make me want to be a 60 year old gardening grandma.

That garden is everything.  And it’s totally my inspiration.

To get there, I have a struggle ahead of me.  Of course, I’ll have my Rachio to back me up but it’s sure to be a lot of trial and error.

Are you like me and want to update your landscape?!  Here’s where I think we should start.  Isn’t everyone always trying to categorize us?  Sheesh.

According to the Heat zone map I’m located in a 10a – 30-35F area.  Where you at?

Heat Zone Map information

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So, this will give us a great idea of all the fun plants available.  That and Pinterest, of course!

Then there’s the little thing about getting the soil ready.  I checked out my city website (I’m in Los Angeles) and we totally have a composting program.  Like they give it to you for free!!  Alls I have to do is get my butt in gear and shovel a bunch of stinky compost into a bin, put it in the car and drive the 30 miles round trip.  Yay for free…my excitement has certainly died down a bit.

Griffith Park in Los Angeles

The last part, and it’s the hardest, is the planning of the whole darn thing.  I’ve never really “planned” my garden… I go to a nursery, point at pretty stuff, plant it and then literally watch as half die.

Not this time, my friends!  I’m going in with ammo.  And just to get the wheels spinning, here are a few gardens that are just the kind of inspiration that I need.

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Dwell – I have a ton of this black river rock… perhaps I can relocate my gopher feeding ground and have something like this instead?

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MyDomaine – This garden in Australia is only watered 4 times a year!!  Lush-ious!  That texture!!

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California Curb Appeal 

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Pacific Northwest Garden – I’m obsessed with allium’s and that flower is a must.  Now to find a place where I can get it!

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Anthony Paul – Love his gardens because they’re extremely zen.  Mass groupings are the way to go when you need a statement.  No more onesie-twosie plantings… Gotta remember that for my shopping list!

16299 Cypress St., Los Gatos, Garden

Sunset – Never discount a humble plant.  Man, I do this all the time.  But look how good that echeveria looks when it’s planted en masse!  I’ve also seen gorgeous gardens with lavender and Mexican sage brush.  Luckily those plants are cheap and hardy!

I’m definitely weeding through all the options.  Pun intended.  Color and texture are going to be the most difficult to execute since I have a pretty large hillside and it’s currently covered in a blanket of solid green.

What about you?  Got plants on the brain?

Let’s cut the water together!!

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Jessica

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