Growing Native

photo credits: Marian and Bridgitte  

I gathered seed of Ceanothus greggii on a rocky slope in May. Buck brush is what I’m talking about and yeah, it’s easier to say. It got that common name cause it’s good browse, especially for deer. So I put those seed capsules in an envelope very near, where I sit to write down plant lists and sometimes write a check. So I’m sitting there and hear a noise and wonder, what the heck? Capsules were opening and tiny seeds were shooting out! I’m gonna be growing Ceanothus this year, now there is no doubt. So should I scarify or…

It’s hard to believe I didn’t mention the beautiful color of the trunks and branches of manzanita. I must have just assumed everyone knew manzanita had beautiful trunks. I apologize and here ya go: The smooth trunks and older branches are very reddish brown or sometimes more brownish red, or sorta maroonish, but always beautiful. The photos are mine.

I love Toumey oaks…I know, I said that, but we have several planted at our little homestead. I think if I lived in and around Tucson I’d be tempted to try this small native oak. Well, of course I would, cause I love this oak. The photos are mine and taken of Toumey oak seedlings in our greenhouse.

Growing plants and being involved in horticulture since 1980 meant knowing the USDA’s plant hardiness zones so I could jabber to folks knowingly (Ha!) about plant choices for their personal habitat. To make things a little more confusing Sunset Magazine created their own hardiness and planting zones for the Western US. Jeez, Sunset! During my brief tenure at the University of Arizona I learned about C. Hart Merriam’s life zone system created in 1896 and I worked that into my plant blather for awhile. It did make me sound pretty smart. Then in 1994 along comes David Brown’s Biotic Communities…