Bulbs

Try not to use low energy bulbs. They interfere with Naim remotes and can contaminate the mains

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:
Try not to use low energy bulbs. They interfere with Naim remotes and can contaminate the mains

Not if you coat them with two layers of varnish from Synergistic Research.

I hate those low energy bulbs and won't use them

I've stumped you all I was thinking...
Calocortus a CA native


Leucojum or snow drops

Allium

and a wonderful native lily

Very pretty, but you can't eat them. How about some nice onions?

Alliums are part of the onion family!

yes they are edible, a smaller and simpler form but there are large globe flowers too in Allium. My front landscape is mostly CA Natives so I wanted local bulbs, the tiger lily is a bit of stretch it comes from wetter areas. I'll plant it near the hose bib. the white leucojum aren't from here but it blooms early winter in LA wet season. I want fall and spring blooming crocus and have located growers into species from warm climates. Turns out furry critters love em too.

In my research it's interesting what is edible, and what is not is usually poisonous like many S African species.

The plants back against foundation are very dry growing and should get 8-15' tall w/ white flowers in spring, one of my books has a pic of it growing in England Carpenteria californica, Bush Anenome. The redbud tree is now turning yellow will be loose shade about 20' H x 25' W. I expect it to adjust to smaller leaves next year. There are also be small CA lilac that will spread out 6' over the wall.

I got a little wild with loose plantings. I used to be more a mass guy but there were so many things I wanted to grow.

What about Iris? there are many different types, some of which will spread rapidly and may be reasonably drought tolerant. Not sure they're edible though!

yes, Iris are great, I know there are dry growing types. N CA area are pacific evergreen types, they've been hybridized and low growing. The tree is finally turning a beautiful yellow. I'm also thinking of putting small plants at the base of the brick wall. Something like dwarf Thyme to soften it up a bit. I should just be patient and let things grow in and spread out.

I grew up in a wooded area outside Philly and don't like symmetry . In design school the head of the department was all about planting in masses and trees 30' on center, ugh!

The dwarf Arbutus Strawberry shrub by the stairs is picked clean by my landlady, she really likes eating them. I was thinking they'd have nice red fruit during the holiday season..... ah well.

Lavender maybe a nice alternative/addition to Thyme and it does OK in dryish soils - smell nice too - as does thyme!

I think the design thing is very personal and in my experience it can get a bit anal!

Planting perennials in threes seems to be another favourite.

Pesonally I plant whatever I like with no gaps!

All the very best!

I know it's obsessive, not unlike many things in life and on this forum. I'm having a good time with it and it gets me out of my apartment. Getting the wall in and then picking out the rocks was great fun. Glad I didn't do the hard work or it would look lousy. And the bill for the foundation work all went to the owners. This is all stuff new to nursery trade when I was in gardening 25 years ago. Eventually plants should be spilling out around rocks and over the gravel and wall. I hate hard lines in plants. If you pick the right things they'll grow to the shape and size you want and with little maintenance. CA natives are demanding tho of the right soil, drainage and water. In summer it should go very dry

This week we've gone from cool weather to 96 F in LA. In 3 days we should be normal. It's coming from the desert. Glad I'm not in Palm Spgs I could never live there.

Next up is a friend's place near Pasadena, half of what he put in hasn't worked. It's very hot and dry so now is the time to plant natives for winter rains.

I've had enough of bulbs for this year. I've just spent 10 days on my knees planting 12000 native wild Daffodils, Bluebells and Snowdrops.

I hope the display is worth it in the spring or I'm going to look such a fool as they are very expensive. Fingers crossed.

yeah that amount of work is tough to do over and over. I went to a Botanic Garden plant sale yesterday and bout some on a volunteer's advice. I think Today, Sunday< would be a nice day to put out the plants.