Common name:California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Botanical name:Eschscholzia californica
This small annual (sometimes acts as a perennial) plant will grow to less than 1' x 1' and has light, small blue-green leaves with gold and orange flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Sow seeds in the fall. Reseeds easily.
Common name:Chilean Mesquite
Botanical name:Prosopis chilensis
Semievergreen tree can rapidly grow to 30' x 30'. Thorns are variable. Can be multitrunked. Dark coarse textured bark. Accepts reflected sun. Upright grower with wide crown. Avoid overwatering to control windstorm uprooting. Yellow-green flowers in spring.
Common name:Globe Mallow
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea ambigua
Evergreeen perennial with rounded shrublike form grows quickly to 3' x 3'. Leaves are gray green and tiny hairs can irritate eyes and skin. Flowers appear in spring. Usually light orange flower but look for selections that offer a wide range of flower colors. Purchase in bloom to be sure to select desired flower color . May starts to look rangy after flowering, prune back for fresh growth. Accepts full sun. Native to the Sonoran Desert.
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Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Remember to check your irrigation systems once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.
If your controller is not a smart controller, it should be reprogrammed as the weather changes.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.