Photo - Taupata Gold Coprosma (Coprosma bauri 'Taupata Gold')

Here is a great shrub for brightening up shady areas against

your house.  The glossy, variegated foliage contrasts beautifully

with other shrubs.  Coprosma is also a great low maintenance

and drought tolerant plant. 

Taupata Gold gets about 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Kennsington

Photo - Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)

Purple Fountain Grass is a hardy, drought tolerant

ornamental grass that can reach 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

This grass looks best if you trim it down to 2 feet in May and November.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Sorrento Valley.

Photo - Rose Scented Geranium (pelargonium graveolens)

The foliage of this tough geranium has a wonderful

fragrance and is great for adding to floral bouquets.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Stonetop Pavers

Stonetop pavers are a beautiful material for patios and pathways.

Here is the RCP Block & Brick's web page for more info;

http://www.rcpblock.com/pavers_stonetop.html

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in Encinitas

Photo - Agave 'Blue Glow'

Here is a beautiful multi-color agave that only gets

about 3 feet tall.  Like most agaves this one has a very sharp

terminal spine on each leaf.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos flavidus)

Kangaroo Paws are wonderful drought tolerant

plants from Australia.  They are also good for cut

flowers and hummingbirds.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Carlsbad.

Photo - Gro-Power

Gro-Power is a soil conditioner that adds organic material and mico-organisms back into the soil. Without these micro-organisms, the soil cannot process any plant food for the roots of your plants.  Gro-Power can be used in both new and existing landscapes.  I recommend applying Gro-Power in January and July.  Gro-Power is available at most nurseries and garden centers.

 

Photo by Doug Kalal

Gardening Tip - How to improve your soil with Gro-Power

      Gro-Power is a soil conditioner that adds organic material and mico-organisms back into the soil.  Without these micro-organisms, the soil cannot process any plant food for the roots of your plants.  Basically, trying to feed plants stuck in hard clay soil is like trying to eat pizza with your mouth wired shut.  The food just has nowhere to go.  With an organic fertilizer like Gro-Power, the plant roots can actively process the nutrients in the soil.

      Gro-Power can be used in both new and existing landscapes.  For new landscapes, rototill Gro-Power in at the rate of 150 lbs for every 1,000 sq ft.  For existing landscapes, use 1 to 5 cups based on plant size every 6 months (see package for details).  It usually takes 1-2 weeks for you to see a difference in your plants.  I recommend applying Gro-Power in January and July.
      Using gypsum and Gro-Power will help turn that rock hard clay soil into a better environment for your garden.  Gro-Power is available at most nurseries and garden centers.

Photo - Bear's Breech (Acanthus mollis)

Here's a big beatuful plant with large leaves

and tall (over 4' high) flower spikes.

Bear's Breech blooms in the late Spring and early Summer.

This perennial will go dormant in the winter in areas

of overnight winter tempatures below 40 degrees,

but they will come back by the following Spring.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in Pacific Beach

Photo - Solid Roof Shade Structure

This shade structure was designed with short walls so that guests

would have a sense of enclosure in this outdoor room.

Notice the wrap around water feature with bridge.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's house in Tierrasanta

Photo - Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

Cleveland Sage is a good plant for both drought tolerant

and bird friendly gardens. Notice the finch in this photo.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Pacific Beach

Photo - Eastern Redbud 'Forest Pansy' (Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy')

This is a terrific tree for small spaces.  This redbud

has pink flowers in the spring and fall color in autumn.

In San Diego, these trees typically reach 15 feet tall and wide.

Photo by Doug Kalal

The New 2 Minute Gardener

Hello blog readers. 
After 18 months I have decided to overhaul the look of the "2 Minute Gardener".  In the coming days I will be dropping some of the old categories and adding new ones.  I would love your feedback on ways to improve this blog. So send me your comments. 
Thanks,
Doug

Photo - Country Manor Pillar

Country Manor Keystone can be used for more than

just retaining walls as seen in this photo where it

was used to build an entrance pillar.

Photo by Doug Kalal