Common name:California or Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica
This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' tall and has light, small blue-green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Common name:Garden Nasturtium
Botanical name:Tropaeolum majus
This garden annual/groundcover will grow less than 1' tall, but will spread and climb up to 6'. Nasturtium has 2" light green leaves with red, orange, yellow, or white flowers that are in constant bloom throughout the warm season. This plant usually reseeds, with new plants emerging in early spring. This plant does better with regular watering. Some folks put the leaves and flowers in salads!
Common name:Bearded Iris
Botanical name:Iris Bearded Hybrids
This perennial will grow 1'-3' tall and has medium sized, blue green leaves with flowers of different colors that bloom in spring. It needs well draining soil and full sun. Many are fragrant and rebloom in the fall. Plant rhizomes in Sept or Oct. They need water once a week during the hot spells. Top dress with compost and gypsum in January and August.
Common name:Climbing Rose
Botanical name:Rosa Climbing varieties
With its dark green foliage and fragrant flowers with full and double blooms, this upright shrub is generally grown as a vine or pillar rose. Climbing varieties come in many colors.
Common name:Garden Stock
Botanical name:Matthiola incana
Matthiola incana has long, narrow grey-green leaves and luxuriant, scented flowers in erect, spikelike cluster. Flowers have a spicy-sweet scent. Colors include white, pink, red, purple, lavender, blue, yellow, and cream.
Common name:Spanish Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula stoechas pedunculata
This dense shrub grows 2'-3' tall with blue-grey foliage and deep purple flowers that have large showy bracts in spring and summer near the top of the spikes. It has low watering needs once it's established. It prefers full sun. Foliage is aromatic.
Designer: | Flower Garden Pieces of Gold |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Group plants in your garden according to their water needs (hydrozone).
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.