Photo - New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax 'Maori Chief')

'Maori Chief' is one of my favorite varieties of New

Zealand Flax.  These drought tolerant perennials are

also great container plants.

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

Photo - Water Feature with California Fuchsia

California Fuchsias are great slope plants and

terrific fall blooming plants.

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

Photo - Bear's Breech (Acanthus mollis)

This wonderful perennial produces great cut

flowers every Spring. 

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)

This tough palm is one of the few palms that can handle

sub-freezing tempatures

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at Balboa Park

Come see me at the San Diego County Fair

For the 5th year in a row I will be speaking at the San Diego County Fair.  I will be giving my talk, "30 Great Drought Tolerant Plants".  Here are the dates and times;

Wednesday, June 20th @ 11:30am
San Diego County Fair
Flower and Garden Stage
Del Mar Fairgrounds

Wednesday, June 27th @ 11:30am
San Diego County Fair
Flower and Garden Stage
Del Mar Fairgrounds

So stop on by and say hi!

Photo - Paddle Plant with flower (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora)

The Paddle Plant is a wonderful succulent

that also has a great flower in the spring.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Red Canna Lily (Canna X generalis)

This wonderful tropical perennial is a spectacular

summer bloomer here in San Diego and a good cut flower.

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

Photo - Goldfish in Water Feature

I have a client in El Cajon who wanted a water feature with

lots of fish it it. The problem was that she lived in a rural part

of the county, so she had lots of racoons who would love some

expensive fish for dinner.  The solution was to buy about 20 

one-dollar goldfish for the pond. The racoons got about half of them,

but the other have figured out how to avoid them and now

she has a flourishing fish population.

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

Photo - Lantana (Lantana camara)

Here is a photo shot in Phoenix back in February.

Lantana is both drought tolerant and butterfly friendy. 

It also thrives in hot climates like Arizona.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Gladiolus

Gladiolus are the great cut flower of summer,

popping up year after year to produce

dazzling blooms in the garden.

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

Photo - Rasied Vegetable Bed

This raised vegetable bed was made from simple

keystone blocks.  The advantages of a raised bed are

easier reach (not so much bending down) and

 improved soil drainage.

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

Photo - Lady Banks Rose (Rosa banksia)

The largest and oldest rose bush in the world is a

Lady Banks Rose.  It is found in Tombstone, Arizona

where the rose bush covers 8,000 square feet and is supported

by a series of fences and posts.  That rose was planted in the

late 1800's and is still thriving to this day,

blooming just in the spring.

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

Photo - Artist Palette Coprosma (Coprosma repens 'Artist Palette'

Here is another beautiful Coprosma that reaches

about 3' tall & wide.  Coprosmas are great for part shade

areas of the garden.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Sticks on Fire (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Here is another beautiful succulent, but be careful,

the sap is toxic.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Blue Chalk Sticks (Senecio mandraliscae)

Blue Chalk Sticks is a terrific drought tolerant ground cover.

The blue green color of the foliage is also a nice contrast

to other succulents.

Photos by Doug Kalal

Photo - Lantana sp. 'New Gold'

Lantana is a good drought tolerant plant for the hot regions

of San Diego County.  It is also a butterfly friendly and

rabbit resistant plant.

Photo by Doug Kalal