CALIFORNIA CLUSTERLILY
Curb Appeal is every home's first impression. That aside, who doesn't like sitting on their front porch or in their backyard smelling and looking at a beautiful lush landscape? It's food for the soul and one way to reduce the stress of daily living. When developing a landscape plan, it's not just about color and texture. There are local growing and weather considerations to consider as well.
Here in Southern California, we are in the midst of a draught and wildfires are always a threat when warm, dry and windy conditions persist. Using native plants and those that require little to no maintainance and watering are responsible choices. There are many options to choose from. In SoCal there are lots of native plants that fit the low water and low maintainance mold. Cleveland Sage, California Red Bud, and Longwood Blue are beautiful flowering water tolerant plants. Shrubs and trees such as the Big Berry and Mexican Manzanilla are also draught tolerant. Succulents and Ornamental grasses can also add color and low maintenance curb appeal. Flowering herbs such as Rosemary can grow quite large and also smell great with the added bonus of being your built in spice rack!
When planting in Wildfire prone areas always remember to plant low density and widely spaced. Rocks and other hardscape materials can complement minimal plantings, require no water and hold down the weeds too.
Deer Grass Concha
For more information on California native and water wise plants, www.bewaterwise.com is a great resource to check out. Happy Planting!!!
AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and on line. We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.
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Excellent post. We should all do our part to conserve water.
Xeriscaping is definitely the way to go no matter where you live, nor how much water you have. Plants do better in native environs or as closely simulated as possible. I love my wildflower garden. It is little maintenance and is about to burst with color!
Insurance companies regularly report that water is the #1 source of their claims. I live in a Mediterranean climate where virtually anything will grow if we meet its water needs. I also live in a desert where water many times is scarce due to droughts.
Here's a document that I make available to my home inspection clients to help them understand the damage that water can do to their homes, and to illustrate how they can have a tropical (looking) garden without the high water bill, how they can attract hummingbirds (Come on! Who doesn't like hummingbirds), and how they can have beautiful flowers that rival any orchid or rose they've ever seen. Readers should fee free to download it and distribute it.
Don't confuse xeriscaping with native landscaping. Although they can overlap, they are not necessarily the same.
Excellent post! I have been tweaking in this direction more and more with my Curb Appeal Strategy Packages. I think a low-maintenence yard appeals to buyers with busy lives....and that translates into EVERY buyer. Thanks for showing us such gorgeous California options!
~Michelle
www.curbappealfordummies.com
Russel,
Boy you really did some homework on this one! Thanks so much for popping in. Lots of great info and beautiful pics too. I will definitely save your information as a great resource for me.
Michelle, Thanks much and your welcome! :)
Hey, Ana.
Hope you made it through the earthquake today. Unfortunately, I didn't feel it here in La Mesa although lots of my friends further south of me did. I will admit, though, that I was out in the yard swinging on a swing and watching the hummingbirds when it hit.
It was a huge jolt to me. This may sound strange but I heard it coming very early Monday morning. I have done this several times before the last few. I was nervous all day yesterday and this morning until it hit! I hear very low pitch rumbling.
I love our hummingbirds too, they love my snail vine on our back patio cover.
I haven't been able to get any flowers for the hummingbirds this year so I go with the artificial stuff.
Now Now Gene,
No excuses for the artificial stuff!
You can't go wrong there with Black Eyed Susans or Monkey Flower. I am an X Hampton Roads resident. I was stationed at Langley AFB for close to 4 years. One of the best places I ever lived. I miss it very much, AND the Hummingbirds too. Thanks for commenting.
Black eyed susans are so beautiful and so are hummingbirds!!!!! Thanks for the great post!
Hi Ana,
Xeriscaping is one of my goals for my home. I have a 1/3 acre property so it's going to take awhile, but I have managed to cut back on water usage by watering only 3-4x per week. My yard still looks fine and I compared my June 2007 and June 2008 water bills and I saved about $30 and conserved water at the same time.
Another really tough plant that has pretty flowers is the Fortnight Lily. It will grow practically anywhere with very little water.