Gathering the Web

San Diegans have been asked to cut down on water usage. We are all encouraged to use 20 gallons less a day. It’s not easy. Most of my plants are drought tolerant, but I still feel the need to give them water, especially in the blazing hot month of July. I’m trying to add more succulents to the garden, in place of thirstier plants. I pulled out some shriveled snapdragons and replaced them with a variety of blooming succulents. The snapdragons never did take off this year. I hope the succulents spread and fill the empty spaces.

We’ve had years when we had to ration water. We could only water the lawn on certain days. That was before I started gardening. If people don’t work to cut down on their water usage, rationing could become mandatory, again. The San Diego Union-Tribune has a good article on personal water conservation. We all need to take it to heart. Fittingly, it was on the same page as an article on succulents in the landscape.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California put together a user friendly guide to gardening. It is helpful for those of us who need to conserve water. Most of the water wise tips are pretty basic. Some examples are:

• Keep thirsty turf grass to a minimum. Use water wise plants instead.
• Water plants only when needed.
• Improve your soil.
• Mulch.
• Plant trees.
• Group container plants wisely.

For more details about these tips read the complete article, Water Wise Landscaping. Also, Will we go native? discusses the need to grow California natives rather than thirsty non-natives. If we have to ration our water, native plant gardens will thrive.

“Even on the hottest summer days in August —- when San Diego County’s rains are months-old memories —- hikers on local mountains can find local sages bursting in blue, and monkey flowers still blooming in orange, red and yellow. And native-plant fans say established plants need summer water only once or twice a month.”

Several years ago, I read the book Gardening With a Wild Heart by Judith Lowry. I remember enjoying this book immensely. It’s an important read and encourages Californians to grow native plants. “This book is a classic in the fields of nature writing and restoration. Though based on California gardens, it has inspired readers from all over the country.” It’s not a how-to guide, as such, but is a combination of practical, poetic, and personal experience. I found it at my local library and plan on checking it out again, sometime soon. I think it was my first read about native plant gardening. It was a great place to start.