by Lori Hubbart

(From Calypso, September - October 2008)

We are pleased to offer some very special local items at this year’s plant sale. Some of these have not been available in this area, and some are offered for the first time. There are only a limited number of some of them, though we hope to have larger quantities next year.

(photo: NCJ)

1. Hairy manzanita, Arctostaphylos columbiana – shell pink. This is a selection of our local, tree-like manzanita, with pale pink-tinged flowers that bloom in late winter. Manzanitas are a vital source of nectar for hummingbirds when little else is in bloom.

(photo: L. Hubbart)

2. Fort Bragg manzanita, Arctostaphylos nummularia ‘Bear Belly’. Introduced by the U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum, this form was originally collected on the Mendocino coast by the great plantsman, Ken Taylor. A superb foliage plant, it is grown for its rounded shiny leaves, and low, compact habit. It is more garden-tolerant than most of its kind.

3. Prostrate coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis. At last, a low-growing coyote bush from the Mendonoma coast! Our two selections are from near Point Arena, growing about 2’ high and 4’ wide. Low coyote bush is deer-resistant, makes a useful green mound in the garden, attracting multitudes of small insects and the birds to eat them.

(photo: L. Hubbart)

4. California fuchsia, Epilobium septentrionale – Gualala River. We thank botanist, Peter Baye, for this selection, from the Gualala River near Annapolis, Sonoma County. It is low and spreading, with gray- green leaves and tubular flowers of bright vermillion. Needless to say, it’s a magnet for hummingbirds.

(photo: L. Hubbart)

5. Headlands poppy, Eschscholzia californica, ‘Manchester Moon’ – The coast California poppy is yellow with a bit of orange at the base of the petals. Our selection has delectable, creamy yellow flowers, sometimes with centers of pale apricot. The color goes with everything, and to see it is to want it.

6. White-flowered blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum. There are other white-flowered forms of blue- eyed grass or grass-iris, but ours is local, from near Point Arena. This little plant with grass-like leaves is a strong grower, festooned for several months with little star-like white flowers. It makes a fine rock garden or container plant.