24 November - Some nice plant in the garden.
Stipa lemmonii var. lemmonii seems to look good in the garden during all the seasons. This California native perennial bunch grass is very drought tolerant. I rarely or never water it during the summer and it still looks great. Near by and newly planted, is Stipa cernua, Nodding Neddle Grass, from the low elevation chaparral country. This species was once widespread throughout the Sierra Nevada Foothill region of California, but now it is rarely seen. It and other native perennial bunch grasses have been replaced by invasive annual grass species and out-of-control wildfires.
Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum requires very little water during the summer and looks good even out of bloom. It is very easy-to-grow. Behind is a large Salvia apiana, equally easy-to-gro
This Eriogonum seedling grew from a batch of seed I gathered in the wild. It grew with seedlings of Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum. It is very different and I will keep an eye on it.
In California, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens is very common in cultivation. I grow mine from seed. There tends to be much variation in the seedlings. Good forms can be selected from a batch of seedling for good plant habit and flower color (the color can vary widely from pale pink to deep brick red).
Salvia sonomensis is always a favorite. The foliage has a great scent. Needs no summer irrigation, and still looks great.
