Aliso Viejo Garden in Summer

Hedge nettle loves this tiny shady, moist place on the side of the house.

Natives CAN be planted in a yard where children play.

White sage.


Yarrow

We planted this border of aster as an experiment. Since they were successful, this family may decide to plant them as a "lawn". To keep them growing low, they can be mowed after those flowers go to seed, and they take lots of traffic.

The asters taking traffic. :)


Mulch keeps the weeds down and the moisture in. Primrose from a native wildflower mix are coming up in the background. In the fall their seeds will provide abundant food for birds, and the family will enjoy watching the birds visit their back yard!

Spring in Costa Mesa!

Yucca, golden yarrow and wooley blue curls brighten this Coast Mesa front yard!

Wooley Blue Curls up close

Monkeyflower in bloom.


Morrels!?


Even the non-native butterflies like native plant nectar!


My kind of family - TWO Prius in the driveway! ;)


Native Morning Glory on the portico.

Laguna Beach Garden in Winter Spleandor!

This garden is reminiscent of mature Coastal Sage Scrub, just 8 months after planting! The soil at this location was just perfect. Now, with some restrained pruning, and the recent rains, these folks are in for a MAGNIFICENT show in the Spring!

Monarch butterflies were drawn in by the milkweed that was planted last Spring. There was evidence of many chrysalis that had already transformed to adult butterflies. It's not always this easy to attract butterflies to your host plants, but these folks live within eyesight of open space, so maybe the critters were already in the neighborhood.

This made me want to plant native strawberries as groundcover in MY yard!

Costa Mesa Garden Grows

Coyote Brush & Bladderpod

Buckwheat & False Indigo

White sage, Yarrow & Coyote Mint