Photo - Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

Here is another drought tolerant plant that is also

great for hummingbirds and slopes.  Cleveland Sage

is a California native that can reach 7 feet in width

and 3 feet in height.

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

Photo - Prostrate Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Prostrate Rosemary is a terrific plant for San Diego gardens.

This drought tolerant plant is also great for slopes and cooking.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Plant Tip - Growing Rosemary

       Ah Rosemary!  Doesn’t the thought of that wonderful plant just make your mouth water?  Rosemary Chicken, Beef with Rosemary, Cornish Game Hens with Garlic & Rosemary.  Of all the drought tolerant plants that do well in San Diego, Rosemary is the most versatile.  Beautiful blue flowers in the winter, good for slopes and flat areas, full sun to part shade under trees, Rosemary is one of my favorite plants.

       There are basically 3 types of Rosemary.  The first is Tuscan Blue Rosemary.  This is the variety ordered by chefs in great restaurants.  ‘Tuscan Blue’ is the most flavorful of all the rosemary varieties.  It is however, also the tallest.  ‘Tuscan Blue’ comes in at a robust 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide.   Next are the medium sized varieties.  ‘Ingram’ and ‘Lockwood de Forrest’ grow about 4 feet and wide.  The last type of rosemary is the prostrate variety.  ‘Huntington Carpet’ reaches 18 inches tall and 6 feet wide and is great for slopes. Rosemary is a great plant for areas that receive full sun during some part of the year and shade during other parts of the year (such as under deciduous trees).  Walter Andersen Nursery also sells a pink rosemary that does well in a container.

          Here is a link to some recipes for using all that Rosemary.  Enjoy!

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Rosemary-An-Herb-to-Remember/Detail.aspx

Photo - Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)

 

 

This native of Texas and Mexico if both a drought tolerant

and hummingbird plant.  Autumn Sages will grow to about

3 feet in width and 2 feet in height.

Photos by Doug Kalal

 

200,000 Page Views

Thank you blog readers!  Today my blog passed the 200,000 page view milestone!

Photo - Tequila Sunrise Coprosma

This little shrub has a dazzling array of colors from the foliage.

Tequila Sunrise Coprosma looks best when it gets some afternoon

shade and will reach about 2-3 feet tall.

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

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

Here is my favorite small tree for San Diego gardens.

The Forest Pansy Redbud is covered with pink flowers in

early spring, followed by dramatic purple foliage for the next 3-4 months.

In late summer the foliage turns green and then in October it will

change color again to look like this.

Photos by Doug Kalal

 

Photo - Cattleya Orchid

Cattleya Orchids prefer to be grown in plastic pots

with exposure to bright indirect light.

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

Photo - Landscape Timber Stairs

Landscape timber stairs are made from bolting together

pressure treated 6" x 6" timbers and then back filled

with decomposed granite.

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

Photo - American Sweet Gum Tree (Liquidamber sp.)

Here in San Diego, there are few trees that deliver

a fall color show like the Liquidamber.

Photo by Doug Kalal