Rays of Lilac Starbursts

Usually, gushing adjectives are reserved for short lived wildflower displays and intense fall color.

There are flowering plants that can singlehandedly inspire oohs and aahs from even the most veteran gardeners.  One of these is the Daphne genkwa, or Lilac Daphne. 

Maybe it's the fact everything else is bare and dreary when it blooms.  Maybe it's the subtle tint of lilac that makes it outstanding.  Maybe it's both.  Whatever the case, Wildwood's Lilac Daphnes are exploding with color now.

If that's not enough of a wow factor, the plant is an important medicinal herb in Eastern cultures.  Both the roots and flower buds have numerous healing qualities.

Another reason to stay healthy this winter - leave the buds on the Daphne!

A Winter View

With the Daffodils out and the trees budding at Wildwood, it's easy to think about Spring.  Not so fast, Winter deserves its due.

This view, looking up at the stone overlook, shows two weeping firs flanking a weeping cedar.  These evergreens contrast nicely with the bare branches of the Valley Oak in the background and the tan bark of the Madrone.

Big rocks and big evergreens seem to go hand in hand.  The cascading, meandering shapes of the fir and cedar soften the view.  Playful and impressive!

Tennessee Valley Trail

A great midweek hike in Marin is the Marin Headlands.  The short Tennessee Valley Trail takes you from an inland equestrian center along a one mile trail to the Pacific Ocean.

The trail sits in a valley floor runs alongside a fairly decent size creek.  The combination of bog plants, valley grasses, hillside chaparral, and windswept trees offers fantastic scenery.  There's plenty of opportunities to take pictures and soak in the vistas on a bench.

That's all before arriving at the beach.  It's a narrow beach with soft sand and loud crashing waves.  The trail is well marked but it's easy to get lost in the surroundings!

February Gardening

Wildwood is working on a residential project that has established Maples and Smokebushes.

The task is to liven up the spaces in between and around the edges with perennial plantings and bulbs.  With a combination of salvia, kniphofia, aster, eupatorium, iris, sedum, penstemon, and lysmachia, we hope to do just that.  Besides adding color, a secondary goal is to have the plants carpet the ground.  This green layer should block sunlight from weeds and shade the soil.

The picture shows the new plants in one of the front planting areas.  Throughout the process the volunteer California Poppies have stood their ground.  They're a big reason orange is part of the new color scheme!

Early Evening Glow

This is a garden that Wildwood has been working on for almost a year now.  The patience is beginning to show.

Now, the x-shaped boxwood hedge is clearly defined.  The roses are undergoing their mid winter pruning.  They still have a few blooms hanging on due to unusually warm weather in San Francisco.  The grey sage that alternates with the roses is peeking above the boxwood in some spots.

This garden's style is a great counterbalance to many of the decidedly informal gardens that Wildwood undertakes.

Coral Barks Enter Screen Left

At Wildwood Farm, the coral bark maples are on center stage.

There are two dwarf varieties.  The smallest coral bark is Winter Flame.  It has all the sizzle of it's larger cousins in an easy to care for size.  At about 4' in ten years, Winter Flame is great for a container or edge of the patio showpiece.

The next size up is Beni Kawa.  This coral bark reaches a slender 12'.  This vase shaped tree looks like a candle in the winter.  The one shown to the left is being positioned near the entrance to the nursery.  As soon as you turn off Sonoma Highway, you'll see a lineup of 6 Beni Kawas in 24" and 36" sizes.

Use your turn signal!

Playas Gemelas

Yes, California is enjoying a long spell of warm dry weather - in Winter.  And folks who went through the polar vortex might scoff at our 'lows' in the high 20's.  Those temps do make growing tropicals a real chore.

Is there a better way to enjoy tropicals without the hassle of growing them then visiting?  Absolutely!  Visit and volunteer.

I spent part of my trip to Puerto Vallarta on Playas Gemelas helping release new born turtles.  When the turtles lay their eggs in summer, the community places them in a nearby poolhouse to protect them from beach activity.  When they hatch, there are turtle release ceremonies!

Watching a baby turtle waddle off into the giant ocean was awesome and a bit emotional.