Common name:Provence Blue Lavandin
Botanical name:Lavandula X intermedia 'Provence'
With tall 24"-30" stems, 'Provence' has true, lavender colored flowers that are fragrant and excellent for cutting. It flowers in early June and has large, gray green leaves.
Common name:Irene Rosemary
Botanical name:Rosmarinus officinalis 'Irene'
This evergreen shrub will grow 1'-1.5' tall and 2'-3' wide. It has small, dark green leaves with rich, lavender blue flowers that bloom all year.
Common name:Orchid or Purple Rockrose
Botanical name:Cistus X purpureus
Orchid rockrose is an evergreen shrub growing to 4' tall and wide, often shorter in stressful situations. The rosy-crimson flowers to 3" wide exhibit a dark purple blotch at the base of each petal, and bloom early to mid-summer. The flowers also feature a contrasting yellow cluster of stamens in the center. It does well in salt spray and cool winds. It is relatively long-lived, tolerant of heat and aridity as well as accepting many soil conditions. -Native Sons Nursery
Common name:Manzanita Emerald Carpet
Botanical name:Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
The 'Emerald Carpet' is an evergreen groundcover that grows to 1' tall by 6'-8' wide. It is favored by many landscapers as the manzanita of choice for inland situations. It has dark green leaves and exhibits compact growth. This variety is relatively tolerant of adverse soil conditions. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Prostrate Coyote Brush
Botanical name:Baccharis pilularis 'Twin Peaks'
Complete with a strong, dense root system which clings attractively to slopes, this makes for an excellent low maintenance ground cover. In addition, it has no messy seeds.
Common name:Crimson Pygmy Japanese Barberry
Botanical name:Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
Pygmy purple leaf barberry is a deciduous shrub with arching branches which reaches 2 ft high and 3 ft wide. The foliage becomes bronzy red in summer and fall. 'Crimson Pygmy' prefers full sun and regular watering, more in hot summer months. This plant has thorns. It makes a great hedge. Prune in winter to re-shape.
Common name:Lavender Lady English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia 'Lady'
A well-developed woody base is apparent with this evergreen subshrub. Its leaves assume an obtuse form, and have a gray green color above and a white woolly shade below. It needs little water, full sun, and well drained soils. Strong lavender scent is used for perfumes and sachets.
Common name:Fraser Photinia
Botanical name:Photinia X fraseri
The Photina fraseri is an evergreen, medium-sized shrub with new foliage that is a glistening, copper red color. It is excellent as a hedge, screen, or accent plant. It should be grown under conditions of sun.
Common name:Orchid or Purple Rockrose
Botanical name:Cistus X purpureus
Orchid rockrose is an evergreen shrub growing to 4' tall and wide, often shorter in stressful situations. The rosy-crimson flowers to 3" wide exhibit a dark purple blotch at the base of each petal, and bloom early to mid-summer. The flowers also feature a contrasting yellow cluster of stamens in the center. It does well in salt spray and cool winds. It is relatively long-lived, tolerant of heat and aridity as well as accepting many soil conditions. -Native Sons Nursery
Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.