Friday, June 29, 2012

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

Thursday, June 28, 2012

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

Thursday, June 21, 2012

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

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

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.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

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.

Friday, June 8, 2012

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

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Photo - Sticks on Fire (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Here is another beautiful succulent, but be careful,
the sap is toxic.
Photo by Doug Kalal

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

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

Monday, June 4, 2012

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