2022-09-14
Rain 0.49" 9-10-2022
2022-04-22
Rain 0.1"; ranfall total 10.39"
Date Amount (in.) Cumulative 10/5/2021 0.08 0.08 10/26/2021 0.45 0.53 12/7/2021 0.02 0.55 12/8/2021 0.05 0.6 12/14/2021 1.15 1.75 12/16/2021 0.48 2.23 12/17/2021 0.04 2.27 12/24/2021 2.40 4.67 12/26/2021 0.45 5.12 12/27/2021 0.20 5.32 12/30/2021 3.75 9.07 2/15/2022 0.09 9.16 12/23/2022 0.02 9.18 3/20/2022 0.20 9.38 3/28/2022 0.81 10.19 3/29/2022 0.10 10.29 4/21/2022 0.10 10.39
2022-03-30
0.1” rain; 10.29" rainfal total for the season
2022-03-29
2022-03-21
Rainfall total 9.38" as of 21 Mar 2022
2020-2021 rainfall Date Recorded Amount (in.) Cumulative 10/5/2021 0.08 0.08 10/26/2021 0.45 0.53 12/7/2021 0.02 0.55 12/8/2021 0.05 0.6 12/14/2021 1.15 1.75 12/16/2021 0.48 2.23 12/17/2021 0.04 2.27 12/24/2021 2.4 4.67 12/26/2021 0.45 5.12 12/27/2021 0.2 5.32 12/30/2021 3.75 9.07 2/15/2022 0.09 9.16 12/23/2022 0.02 9.18 3/20/2022 0.2 9.38
2021-12-21
Rain to date
Date Amount Cumulative 10/5/2021 0.08 0.08 10/26/2021 0.45 0.53 12/7/2021 0.02 0.55 12/8/2021 0.05 0.6 12/14/2021 1.15 1.75 12/16/2021 0.48 2.23 12/17/2021 0.04 2.27
2021-04-05
Rainfall total 5.05"
2020-2021 rainfall Date Amount (in.) Cumulative 11/7/2020 0.24 0.24 12/28/2020 1.7 1.94 1/25/2021 0.24 2.18 1/29/2021 1.37 3.55 3/3/2021 0.13 3.68 3/10/2021 0.78 4.46 3/11/2021 0.37 4.83 3/12/2021 0.02 4.85 3/15/2021 0.2 5.05
2021-02-02
Calliandra replaces Encelia
I replaced a perfectly good Encelia farinosa (Brittlebush, Incienso) that had never flowered as prolifically as I wanted with Calliandra eriophylla (Pink fairyduster, Mesquitillo).
The Encelia was at times an inspired choice - it had a ~2.5' rounded growth habit with perennial gray - almost white- leaves that looked great in a summer evening garden. It glowed in the moonlight.
However, it grew a bit wide for the spot I had in mind and crowded the top and sides of the small sandy berm on which it was planted. It never flowered as prolifically as I wanted (I've seen specimens absolutely covered with yellow flowers) and then it recently seemed to be a bit in decline. Pruning could have addressed this, but ultimately I wanted a bit more architectural interest, visibility through the its replacement, attractive flowers, and the ability to use more of the berm on which it was placed.
I think that its replacement, Calliandra eriophylla meets those requirements. I've previously planted its larger relative, Calliandra californica, and it flourished in my garden against a south-facing concrete wall. C. eriophylla should be a bit more dainty and with appropriate pruning it ought to be a bit more open, sculptural, and accommodating to adjacent plantings.
Purchases at Theodore Payne
On 11/12/2020 I purchased the following native plants at Theodore Payne
Aquilegia formosa 4" - three @ $12.75 that are now share space in the front rose garden, since they will do well with more water than they are likely to get elsewhere.
Quersuc durata 1G - 1 @ 11.90 - A whim purchase. Can I grow this on my hillside and keep it low? This is a shrub oak tree and mine looks like it's two in a 1 gal pot, so root competition may keep it smaller. Not local to PV, but rather the surrounding LA mountains. PV is often left off of the "what grows here" charts since it is widely separated from documented occurrences by the moat of greater Los Angeles. Calflora has a settable parameter with a default of 10 miles of "moat". With 10 miles or more of separation between a place of documented growth and your area of interest the answer is "doesn't grow there", even if it quite likely used to or will.
Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn' 1G - 1 @ 10.20 - Tony Baker suggested that I try this in the large pot near my front door. It gets full direct and reflected sun in summer and hardly any light at all in winter. Her suggested I pair it with strawberries, which I have did a few weeks ago. Looking good so far.
Calliandra eriphylla 1G - 1 @11.90 - The smaller and pink version of Baja Fairyduster (Calliandra californica) that may be more garden suitable for me. Need to make a place for this. This is an eastern desert plant, so my sunny and sandy soil berm will be suitable.
Oenothera elata ssp hookeri 4" - 3 @ 12.75. Hooker's Evening Primrose. Hooker is a last name. This probably wants more water than I planned to give it, so I'm in a bit of a replan about where to put it. These ended up low on the east side of the native garden berm, near a fountain.
Lepechinia fragrans 1G - 1 @ 11.90 - I thought my parents might like this, since it is low water and full sun to part shade. It might work well off the patio of their house. I have one that's moved around my garden and is now on the lower side of my hill. It doesn't seem to be doing incredibly well, but a winter in teh ground may help it along.
Dudleya traskiae 1 G - 1 @ 11.90
Sisrinchium bellum 1 G - 1 @ 8.50 - Planted at my parent's house. Not even sure why I bought this since I have a ton that could have dug up.
Festuca rubra 'Molate' seed 0.25 lb 17.00 - seems to work well in my yard.
Allium bulbs 2 @ 8.00
1.37” rain
1/29/2021 1.37"
We are headed for a low rain year at current rates. I'm adding supplemental water in the garden when it looks cloudy and I think the plants will be appreciative come summer if the rainfall totals stay low.
Brent - via iPhone
2020-04-14
Almost 16" of rain this year!
Something I particularly appreciated was being at home during the rain. My work is normally quite insulated from weather, so it was nice to hear and see the rain falling.
I doubt there's much rain left in the season, but it didn't disappoint.
Date Amount (in.) Cumulative 11/20/2019 0.53 0.53 11/21/2019 0.03 0.56 11/29/2019 1.88 2.44 12/1/2019 0.35 2.79 12/4/2019 1.02 3.81 12/7/2019 0.15 3.96 12/23/2019 3.29 7.25 12/24/2019 0.04 7.29 12/26/2019 1.69 8.98 1/17/2020 0.28 9.26 2/9/2020 0.13 9.39 2/10/2020 0.03 9.42 3/8/2020 0.05 9.47 3/10/2020 0.19 9.66 3/11/2020 0.02 9.68 3/12/2020 1.05 10.73 3/15/2020 0.35 11.08 3/17/2020 0.08 11.16 3/20/2020 0.16 11.32 3/23/2020 0.99 12.31 3/24/2020 0.01 12.32 4/6/2020 0.4 12.72 4/8/2020 0.4 13.12 4/9/2020 2.49 15.61 4/10/2020 0.32 15.93
2020-04-09
0.40" of rain on 8 Apr. More on the way
2020-04-02
Engagement and being a citizen
Aside (skip this paragraph if you want): The title of this article taps into a feeling I have that societal engagement is part of a citizen's job and I credit the novel Corona virus for giving me the space to articulate this thought on virtual paper. I'll leave it at that, lest this paragraph become more weighty than the others.
I suspect that government and corporate grants will enter a down phase in the next year or two, so if you believe in a cause then you might want to consider investing in it. This doesn't have to be money, though that is sometimes the easiest investment. It could be a gift of your time to create a bit of content. It could be engagement by showing up at (virtual, for now) events or commenting on a blog post or news article. All of these activities are things I would consider investments but the sponsoring institution also sees as engagement, which is one metric that they will use assess success or failure, to solicit grants, or to sell advertising. It's one thing to count web traffic, but it's quite a bit more powerful to count people that are willing to pay to support you.
Since this is a native plant blog, the examples below pull where they can from native plant and ecology-oriented examples.
Change your CNPS membership into a sustaining monthly donation. Why do a basic annual membership ($50) when you can donate starting at $5/mo as a Perennial Monthly Sustainer ($60 annually). As CNPS puts it, "[Monthly Sustainers] provide much-needed, predictable income for our programs. Your gift will be automatically repeated every month." Sometimes constancy trumps total value, as it allows year-round planning with a steady budget. Don't forget to patronize our local nurseries and other native plant institutions such as Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (reciprocal membership policy gets you in free at other particiapating botanic gardens, including the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden) and Cal Flora.
Donate to a local organization. Go big with an endowment in your will or go small by picking a favorite charity through smile.amazon.com. The Palos Verdes Land Conservancy was my pick at smile.amazon.com, which donates a portion of each purchase to the charity of your choice - smile requires that you use the web version of Amazon to pay, so if I'm on my phone I will fill my cart from the app, then log in through the browser to pay. At the opposite end of the spectrum is an end-of-life bequest. The SCCNPS was fortunate to receive such a bequest from the Conze estate, and has used it to good effect to promote native plant gardening.
Engage directly with news media by visiting their web sites, commenting on articles, and most of all subscribing to a news service such as a newspaper or monthly journal. Journalism and research aren't cost free and a subscription supports this directly with the added benefit that it may get you past a pay wall to view more content. I subscribe to the LA Times since I support hometown journalism as well as High Country News, a western states monthly news magazine. Neither subscription is ghastly expensive and occasionally I give a bit more to HCN. But remember, even viewing the news and commenting could be valuable. Imagine in the newsroom: "Look boss, our article on California native plants got 1,500 more views and 20 more comments than expected! Let's feature more of that." If you are already a print subscriber to the LA Times, then I believe you can access the online version with no added cost. LA Times is running a limited time special right now - 8 weeks online subscription for $1. High Country News has made their COVID-19 content free and offers a year of magazine+online delivery for $37.
There are many other worthy organizations that I am sure I overlooked. Please comment with your own suggestions.