Plant Pick: Succulents Part 1

Aloe Saponaria

Following on the footsteps of the statuesque Chilean LOBELIA I wrote about in March, here are examples of two large groups of plants that offer vertical excitement - the ALOES of South Africa and the AEONIUMS, which are mostly from the Canary Islands. These two areas of the world have Mediterranean climates like ours.

Listening to the Buzz of the Bees

We just added a new beehive to our garden and my 6 year old son Bryce helped pour the new bees and their queen into their box. He was as fascinated as the rest of us to watch the bees fly around in circles above the hive trying to settle into their new digs and find some flowers. Bryce offered some friendly advice:  “the flowers are over THERE bees!” and pointed. But of course the bees couldn’t understand him and had to find their own way.

Marin Tour Plant Lists

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Marin Bay-Friendly tour! Here are plant lists from some of the gardens that were on the tour.

• Garden 64:  Iris Gold & Steven Katz
• Garden 65:  Betsy McGee
• Garden 67:  Painter Residence

Conserving Water at Havenscourt Homestead

Photo by Lori Eanes

I first met Kitty Sharkey at her Oakland garden in 2010 when she was applying to be a tour host gardener. During that visit I also met the goats, chickens and rabbits that are an integral part of her garden. Kitty is committed to finding sustainable ways of living in an urban environment, both inside and out. She recently shared some of her water conserving strategies that have allowed her to cut her water usage by more than half. Way to go Kitty! -Jennifer Ketring

Conserving water has been a huge goal for me here at Havenscourt Homestead. After all, I do have a lot of things that require extra water like gardening and raising livestock. So I've made a lot of investments in water saving devices as well as adjustments to various activities in my life.

Napa Tour Plant Lists

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Napa Bay-Friendly tour. Here are plants lists from some of the gardens that were on the tour:

• Garden 47:  Susanne von Rosenberg
• Garden 49:  Karen Olson
• Garden 50:  Lou Penning
• Garden 51:  Cope Family Center
• Garden 52:  O'Neill Residence
• Garden 53:  Patricia & Dale Parker
• Garden 54:  Monica Nelson