Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta X faassenii

Nepeta faassenii makes soft, gray green, undulating mounds that are 1.5' high when blooming. The small leaves are attractive to cats. This perennial has lavender blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

Common name:Deer Grass
Botanical name:Muhlenbergia rigens

The Deer Grass is a warm season perennial that forms dense clumps from the base. The spike-like flower stalks grow 2'-3' tall and this grass has striking foundation form. The Deer Grass is native to California, is drought tolerant, and is a beneficial insect plant.

Common name:Coyote Bush Prostrate
Botanical name:Baccharis piluraris 'Twin Peaks'

Complete with a strong, dense root system which clings attractively to slopes, this makes for an excellent low maintenance ground cover. In addition, it has no messy seeds.

Common name:Creeping Mahonia
Botanical name:Berberis repens

The creeping Mahonia is a small evergreen shrub that grows 1'-3' high. It has spiny, red to green foliage and yellow flowers in the spring. This plant spreads by underground stems and is resistant to oak root fungus. It is native to California and is drought tolerant.

Common name:Blue Sedge
Botanical name:Carex glauca

Carex 'Frosty Curls' is actually likely C. albula rather than C.comans but is well confused in the nursery industry. 'Frosty Curls' belongs to the group of New Zealand sedges that prefer well drained, drier conditions than other sedges typically prefer. If planted in inundated conditions, this sedge may struggle significantly. Otherwise, planted in groups or individually, it can be quite spectacular and carefree, providing foliage interest year round with light, almost silver weeping foliage.

Common name:Strawberry Madrone
Botanical name:Arbutus 'Marina'

The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as Pacific Madrone. Its flowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage.

Common name:Pride Of Madeira
Botanical name:Echium candicans

Mature specimens of this evergreen shrub can grow to a size of 6'-8' tall and 8'-10' wide. In the spring, spikes of rosy-violet to blue-purple flowers appear. It should receive sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. This plant can be severely damaged by frost below 25 degrees F. This plant can be invasive in some areas, so use caution.

Compost for Healthy Soil and Plants

The natural world works in cycles. Everything is changing form and moving from place to place in an endless energy exchange system. The leaves and twigs that fall to the ground, not to mention other life forms that might die, decompose and combine with water, air and minerals of the soil to create a medium for future plants.

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