Monday, February 15, 2010
Grand Prize Award!
I am proud to announce that a project of ours has been awarded a Grand Prize in the Landscape Recognition Program of the Cucamonga Valley Water District. Photos of this project can be seen on our website, http://www.clementslandscape.com/. A tour of this garden at 8089 Gardenia Ave in Alta Loma and the other winning gardens will be held on April 24. I will be there to answer questions and hand out information sheets on the plants used in the garden. Please stop by to see these colorful and drought tolerant plants!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
In praise of parsley and other small wonders
I try not to overlook the obvious in favor of the exotic, and two common garden plants are deserving of more attention.
One of them is Flat Leaf Italian Parsley. This may be the perfect herb- tasty, goes well with almost any cuisine, tidy and tough. In the coldest part of the year it is going strong with rich green glossy leaves that snap with flavor. I harvest stems about 9" long, aiming for the longer branches to keep the plant a nice rounded shape.
After rinsing the whole bunch I put the sprigs in a water glass to serve as an edible bouquet. The cuttings stay fresh and tasty for at least ten days (the longest I've ever gone without using them). They are a great breath freshener and I like to grab a few leaves to chew as I wander by.
Yesterday I was out walking past a field where Alyssum had gone wild, covering the ground with cotton ball like blooms and perfuming the air with the rich scent of honey. These common bedding plants are loved by bees and are happy in almost any circumstance. They are small enough to tuck into areas between other plants that need time to grow in, and also do great in containers. They will trail a little over pot rims and walkway edges and add a nice informal feeling. It does get worn looking in late summer; some people pull it out or cut it back. If you leave it, it will self-sow and you'll get a crop of seedlings to continue with.
I admit that I do get excited about new varieties, and even plants that are just new to me. I love to look over new introductions (a variegated leaf will always get my attention). However, I also believe that tried and true has its place, and that place is in the garden.
One of them is Flat Leaf Italian Parsley. This may be the perfect herb- tasty, goes well with almost any cuisine, tidy and tough. In the coldest part of the year it is going strong with rich green glossy leaves that snap with flavor. I harvest stems about 9" long, aiming for the longer branches to keep the plant a nice rounded shape.
Yesterday I was out walking past a field where Alyssum had gone wild, covering the ground with cotton ball like blooms and perfuming the air with the rich scent of honey. These common bedding plants are loved by bees and are happy in almost any circumstance. They are small enough to tuck into areas between other plants that need time to grow in, and also do great in containers. They will trail a little over pot rims and walkway edges and add a nice informal feeling. It does get worn looking in late summer; some people pull it out or cut it back. If you leave it, it will self-sow and you'll get a crop of seedlings to continue with.
I admit that I do get excited about new varieties, and even plants that are just new to me. I love to look over new introductions (a variegated leaf will always get my attention). However, I also believe that tried and true has its place, and that place is in the garden.
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