Agapanthus

Agapanthus is sometimes called Lily of the Nile, African Blue Lily, or similar names. There are several species of this South African native, but most sold in nurseries here are agapanthus praecox or its subspecies agapanthus orientalis, even though they are sometimes mislabeled as agapanthus africanus. Once established, they are drought tolerant, and do well in almost any area with well-drained soil. They like full or part sun, and bloom during spring and summer. Some produce white flowers, others are light blue or lavender. Hummingbirds love them!

Agapanthus has rhizomatic roots, and can be propagated by division. The best time to do this is in the fall when blooming is over. You can simply dig up a clump, divide it into a few sections, and plant each one separately. They will also sometimes spread on their own. When you are working with this plant, be aware that its sap can be extremely irritating, causing a poison-ivy like rash on the skin, and severe ulceration of the mouth and mucous membranes. I wear long sleeves and/or elbow-length gloves when I cut or replant them.

Homegrown

My little "patio tomato" plant is progressing nicely. It sits in a pot at the edge of the patio, of course. I also have a pair of larger plants in another part of the garden that are just starting to develop fruit.

Home-grown tomatoes are easy and economical. And they taste so much better than any you will find in the supermarket that it can be hard to believe they are related.

It's not too late to get started. Plants are still available in local nurseries for less than $1.50 each. For a special treat, try the yellow pear variety. They look nice in salads, and are good enough to eat as snacks. If you have room for more than one plant, it can be fun and rewarding to experiment with one of the "heirloom" varieties.

How Dry I Am

Today marks the beginning of mandatory water usage reduction in Los Angeles. Yes, San Fernando Valley, that means you, too.

Residents are expected to reduce their water usage by 15%. You have been assigned a "Tier 1 allotment". If you can stick with that, you pay for water at the lowest current rate. If you exceed it, "Tier 2" pricing (a much higher rate) is applied. To find out more about how this affects you, visit the DWP website at at www.ladwp.com.

Here are rules to remember:

• Sprinklers are to be used only on Mondays and Thursdays. (Hand watering is still allowed on other days.)
• No more than 15 minutes per sprinkler station.
• Watering (by hand or by sprinkler) may not be done between 9am and 4pm.
• Don't water hard surfaces (sidewalks, driveways, etc.) or allow excess runoff to enter the street.
• Don't water if it's raining.
• Leaks must be fixed.
• If you wash your car, use a hose with a shutoff valve.
• Don't run a decorative fountain unless the water is being recirculated.
• Restaurants may not serve unrequested water.
  

This is not a complete list, and, of course, I don't guarantee its accuracy. For more information you can contact the DWP.

Reducing Water Use

On a recent weekend, I ripped out a flower bed and replaced it with this "rock garden". This enabled me to cap off one sprinkler head, and convert another to cover a smaller area. This is my first effort at rock gardening. I think it's too simple; while I was taking the picture it occurred to me that instead of just red lava rock, I could have made sections using two colors to make it more interesting.

In future posts I'll include photos of some of the interesting things my neighbors have done with rocks and succulents.

Pepper Tree

This California pepper tree (Schinus molle) is a volunteer in my garden. Less than two years old, it is already more than ten feet tall. Originally it had two main branches veeing away from the base, but one was damaged by winter storms and had to be cut away. The tree now has about half the volume it would otherwise have had.

I'm very fond of pepper trees, but I have mixed feelings about this one. It's not in a spot where a really large tree would be appropriate. Pepper trees are fast growers and can reach 30-40 feet high with a spread to match. Of, course, we can keep it under control (we think) with careful pruning.

Despite the name, these trees aren't really native to California. (Hint: They are also known as the Peruvian pepper tree.) They were brought here from South America by Spanish missionaries a few hundred years ago. They are now naturalized, although I have occasionally seen them classified as invasive, or even as weeds. Drought-resistant, they provide excellent shade, the Spaniards' motive for carrying them so far. Although apparently some people use the "peppers" (small pink fruits that grow in clusters in the fall) to flavor food, it's not a good idea, as they are toxic in quantity.

Cactus in Bloom

Opuntia lindheimeri, known as Texas prickly pear, is a cactus originating in Texas that grows throughout the American southwest. It blooms in spring and early summer, with flowers that range from pale yellow to red. The fruit is edible, but I haven't tried it. The spines can be burned off so that the plant can be fed to cattle as a source of water.

The plants can grow ten feet high, but I haven't seen any beyond three or four feet. Drought tolerant and good-looking, they make sense in our water-rationed gardens.

Coral Aloe

Coral striata, known as coral aloe, comes from South Africa. This drought-tolerant plant does very well in South California, and is popular in low-water landscaping. The grayish-green leaves develop a pink tinge on the edges in cold weather, and the plant blooms in winter or early spring. A mature plant can grow to as much as two feet wide and three feet tall.