Where Ya Growin'?

Check LawnGoodbye.com for more on this

With A Name Like Horny Toad There Should Be More Of Them

The native horned lizard (mainly driven out of habitats by the invasion of farms, cities andArgentine ants which displaced their favorite food source, harvester ants) has been found to have three distinct population groups. The gist:

❝Aside from the oldest and original species, P. coronatum, found only in southern Baja California, the researchers identified a new species, P. cerroense, in central Baja and a third, P. blainvillii, whose range extends from northern Baja to Northern California. Within the third, wide-ranging species, the study's authors found enough genetic and ecological differences to suggest there are at least three distinct populations of P. blainvillii, each requiring separate management and protection.❞

Why it's important that our native reptiles have a place in the ecosystem is because they are predators. Predators are vital to creating a healthy living space for plants-- they eat bugs that eat plants, and the deeper the food chain in your yard can be, the healthier your plants will be.
[via e! Science News]
[pic via National Geographic]

Dymondia In The Rough

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Magnificent Matilija poppy

California Native Plants:

❝The large white blooms are the size of a saucer. The petals look like wrinkled crepe paper, the center is a bright yellow disk. Some have likened the flower to the appearance of a fried egg. A solitary bloom is a very fine thing, but a large stand of Matilija in full bloom is a sight to behold! Hundreds of huge white flowers borne at eye-level on long straight stems, contrasted by attractive blue-green foliage… a real show stopper!
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Painting by William Prosser

An Eruption of Aloes

Wikipedia: The genus is native to Africa, and is common in South Africa's Cape Province, the mountains of tropical Africa, and neighboring areas such as Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, and the islands of Africa.
...

❝Of the 299 species of Aloe, only a few were used traditionally as a herbal medicine, aloe vera again being the most commonly used version of aloe in herbal medicine. Also included are Aloe perryi (found in northeastern Africa) and Aloe ferox (found in South Africa). The Greeks and Romans used aloe vera to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid found inside the leaves was favored as a purgative. Processed aloe that contains aloin is generally used as a laxative, whereas processed aloe vera juice does not usually contain significant aloin.
Some species, particularly Aloe vera are used in alternative medicine and in the home first aids. Both the translucent inner pulp and the resinous yellow aloin from wounding the Aloe plant are used externally to relieve skin discomforts. As an herbal medicine, aloe vera juice is commonly used internally to relieve digestive discomfort "aloe for heartburn." Some modern research suggests Aloe vera can significantly slow wound healing compared to normal protocols of treatment. Other reviews of randomised and controlled clinical trials have provided no evidence that Aloe vera has a strong medicinal effect.❞

Growing aloe

Drought Tolerant Parkway Guidelines

via TreePeople a PDF file on the City guidelines for installation of smart landscaping in the parkways (the grow strip between the sidewalk and curb).

Guidelines allow for plants as tall as 36".

❝The accepted standard parkway planting material (other than street trees) is turf (grass) and/or drought tolerant, turf-substitute groundcover plants that provide the same desirable characteristics as turf. Because they are an accepted standard, no permit is required when turf or drought tolerant turf-substitutes are used to plant a parkway. Turf and drought tolerant turf-substitutes provide an obstruction free pedestrian passage between the street and sidewalk, a commonly accepted walking surface, tolerates foot traffic, and maintains an open line of sight between the street and abutting property, hence their acceptance as the standard parkway planting materials.❞

Removal of turfgrass enables enrollment in the Cash For Grass program.

Italian Cypress & 2 Boxwoods, Repeat

In honor of spring:

I can't find the origin of this photo, but it's all over the web, purporting to be the HQ of Viagra-manufacturer Pfizer in Toronto. I wonder if such a planting could pass muster in areas with strict sign laws.