#western red cedar bark mulch

[mountainbarkexpress]

Western Cedar Mulch, Bark Mulch, Nuggets & More in Calgary

Wholesale Western Cedar Mulch, bark mulch, and nuggets at Mtn Bark, Calgary's trusted supplier for cedar mulch, organic soil, bark, and fencing. Serving Calgary and nearby areas.

[bkbcedar]

The Ultimate Guide to Mulching: Benefits and Best Practices

Many people ask, "Why is mulch so important? Why do all the experts at garden centers tell me to use it?" Let's discover all the reasons why mulch is a gardener's best friend!!

Why Use Mulch?

Weed Control

One of the most important reasons to use mulch is to keep weeds at bay. When you cover the soil with mulch, it blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds. Without sunlight, these seeds can't grow into pesky weeds.

Moisture Retention

Mulch helps keep the soil moist. A 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil surface reduces water evaporation. This means the soil stays wetter for longer periods, even between rain showers or watering. Your plants will have a consistent water supply.

Temperature Regulation

Mulch also helps to keep the soil temperature stable. A 2-inch layer of mulch acts like a blanket, protecting the soil from getting too hot or too cold. This is especially helpful during sudden weather changes.

When to Mulch

Knowing when to mulch is just as important as knowing why to mulch.

Early Spring

In early spring, the soil is still warming up from the cold winter. The temperature of the soil a few inches below the surface is usually about 10 degrees colder than the air temperature. Mulching too early can keep the soil cold for longer, slowing down the growth of your garden plants.

When to Start

The best time to start mulching is when your garden plants begin to grow. This usually means the soil has warmed up enough to support healthy plant growth. If you mulch too soon, it might slow down the awakening of your garden.

What is Mulch?

Organic Mulch

The best mulches are made from natural materials. These can include fallen leaves, bark from trees, and even recycled paper.

Avoid Stones and Gravel

Horticulturists generally recommend avoiding stone or gravel mulches. These materials can hold too much heat, which can be harmful to plant roots.

Types of Plants and Their Mulch

Woody Trees and Shrubs: These plants do well with bark or wood-based mulches like shredded bark or chunk bark.

Herbaceous Plants: Perennials, annuals, and vegetables thrive with non-wood-based mulches like leaf mulch or leaf compost.

How to Use Mulch

Using mulch properly ensures that your plants get the maximum benefits.

Application

Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch on the ground around your plants.

Make sure to leave a space of 4-6 inches away from the stems or trunks. This helps prevent rot and disease.

Cover the ground out to the "drip line" of the plant. The drip line is where the outermost leaves or branches end.

Mulching is an easy and effective way to keep your garden healthy and beautiful. Whether you're using western red cedar mulch or cedar mulch for sale, following these simple guidelines will help your garden thrive!

[bethestaryouareradio]

Nature's Natives

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Witnessed from outer space this spring, a pageant of splendor burst into bloom on hillsides, in fields, chaparrals, and desert environs. The “super blooms” of Southern California captivated hearts and cameras. Northern California is exhibiting a bountiful season of blue lupines, orange poppies, and gardens filled with flowers, just not to the degree of our neighbors to the south.

Although weeds are described as plants growing where we don’t want them, weeds are in proliferation after our continual wet days. Wild cut leaf geranium resembles a ground cover when small with tiny pink petals, yet it is a weed that needs to be pulled before it scatters seeds. Hand removal of invasive grasses is also necessary as they create fire danger while outcompeting native flora for light, water, space, and food.

More than 18,000 plant species are native to the United States and approximately 6000 species are endemic to California. To be considered a true California native, the plants must have grown here before the late 18th century when the Europeans arrived. Our state flower, the California poppy, as well as lupines, fuchsias, and other “natives” were actually first cultivated in the gardens of Europe, yet we have adopted them as our own. We are blessed to grow numerous flora inhabitants from the Mediterranean that have acclimated to our mild four seasons and adapted to our clay soil. I have termed these friends, such as lavender and acanthus, “the new natives” as I like to include them in my garden designs.

Natives are drought tolerant after they have been established, although they will require water if the weather has been exceptionally dry. They are wildlife attractors bringing songbirds, lizards, salamanders, butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators into the landscape. Minimal maintenance is required without dependence on pesticides or fertilizers. Top dressing all plants with mulch to maintain a constant temperature while reducing erosion and temperature fluctuations is advantageous.

For year-round interest, select a variety of natives that bloom during each of the twelve months. Wildflowers are fussy as transplants therefore for a spring show, sow seeds in the fall to allow the winter water to promote a strong root system. Plants with tiny seeds can live dormant in the underground seed bank for 80 years or more depending on the optimum conditions to coax them above ground to flower, fruit, and set seed.

A Sampling of Favorite California Natives

Trees, Grasses Oak Western Red Bud Redwood Sequoia Pine Cypress Cedar Fir Yew Willow Alder Aspen Sycamore Blue-eyed grass Sedges Rushes Fescue Reed grass Wild Rye

Shrubs, Plants, Flowers Manzanita Ceanothus (California Lilac) Sage Currant Fern Lupine Columbine California poppy Heuchera Dicentra Brodiaeas Blue Dicks Morning glory Clarkia Wild rose Wild grape Clematis Wood Strawberry Matilija Fried Egg Plant

Native Perennials to the United States Milkweed Echinacea Black-eyed Susan Butterfly Weed Aster Creeping Phlox Bee Balm Bluebells Lobelia Hydrangea Acanthus

Gaillardia Trillium Coreopsis Bluestem Grass Honeysuckle Switchgrass Blazing Star Dogwood Iris Gaura Trumpet vine Elderberry

These are just a few of the thousands of natives you can discover at your nursery. A large variety of succulents and cacti are also available. It is important to remember that every plant is native to someplace. When choosing a species, you want to make sure it will grow well in your microclimate.

Because natives have adapted to our land, they won’t struggle for survival. They are strong players requiring less work, water, and food as they work in harmony with our ecosystem. Natives are an advantageous addition to any garden as they support bees, butterflies, and birds, bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our landscapes.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide

BEWARE the tick. Ticks are attacking and they are not just on the deer. Keep your lawns mowed and the brush cleared. Rid your yard of Japanese barberry as this invasive species is a haven for ticks.

KEEP deer from nibbling your new sprouts by installing a nine to twelve-foot deer fence. Unfortunately, all of the natural remedies including soap, hair, sprinklers, whirlybirds, lights, and noise are not effective long term.

RE-POT orchids in spring if they are root bound or the planting medium has broken down. Most orchids need to be repotted every two to three years. If you notice green root tips on plump white roots, it is time to divide. Re-pot in lightly packed fir bark or sphagnum moss using a container large enough to allow for two more years of growth.

DIMINISH spring allergies by always removing your shoes before entering your home. Change your clothes, shower before bedtime to keep the pollen from gathering on your sheets. Ramp up your house cleaning efforts by dusting, vacuuming, and mopping often.

SHARPEN lawnmower blades for a cleaner cut. Stay off the grass if it has been raining as walking on wet grass damages the blades and the roots.

SNIP the flowers off bolting arugula kale lettuces, and other leafy vegetables to prevent the plants from going to seed. Add the flowers to salads, soups, and sauces or decorate your plates.

MARK your calendars: April 21 is Easter. Fill baskets for garden lovers with my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener available with extra freebies at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

April 22 is Earth Day April 28 is the Annual Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch www.fwrna.org/annual-wildlife-festival.html

May 11 is the Moraga Community Faire. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to celebrate nature, books, and kids.www.bethestaryouare.org/events

    Wishing you a hippity hoppity happy Bunny Day on Easter!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing, Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1304/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-for-April-Natures-Natives.html

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

  Keywords: #california natives, #native plants,#gardening, #cynthia brian, #starstyle, #goddess Gardener, #growig with the goddess gardener, #lamorinda weekly

[goddessgardener]

Nature's Natives

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Witnessed from outer space this spring, a pageant of splendor burst into bloom on hillsides, in fields, chaparrals, and desert environs. The “super blooms” of Southern California captivated hearts and cameras. Northern California is exhibiting a bountiful season of blue lupines, orange poppies, and gardens filled with flowers, just not to the degree of our neighbors to the south.

Although weeds are described as plants growing where we don’t want them, weeds are in proliferation after our continual wet days. Wild cut leaf geranium resembles a ground cover when small with tiny pink petals, yet it is a weed that needs to be pulled before it scatters seeds. Hand removal of invasive grasses is also necessary as they create fire danger while outcompeting native flora for light, water, space, and food.

More than 18,000 plant species are native to the United States and approximately 6000 species are endemic to California. To be considered a true California native, the plants must have grown here before the late 18th century when the Europeans arrived. Our state flower, the California poppy, as well as lupines, fuchsias, and other “natives” were actually first cultivated in the gardens of Europe, yet we have adopted them as our own. We are blessed to grow numerous flora inhabitants from the Mediterranean that have acclimated to our mild four seasons and adapted to our clay soil. I have termed these friends, such as lavender and acanthus, “the new natives” as I like to include them in my garden designs.

Natives are drought tolerant after they have been established, although they will require water if the weather has been exceptionally dry. They are wildlife attractors bringing songbirds, lizards, salamanders, butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators into the landscape. Minimal maintenance is required without dependence on pesticides or fertilizers. Top dressing all plants with mulch to maintain a constant temperature while reducing erosion and temperature fluctuations is advantageous.

For year-round interest, select a variety of natives that bloom during each of the twelve months. Wildflowers are fussy as transplants therefore for a spring show, sow seeds in the fall to allow the winter water to promote a strong root system. Plants with tiny seeds can live dormant in the underground seed bank for 80 years or more depending on the optimum conditions to coax them above ground to flower, fruit, and set seed.

A Sampling of Favorite California Natives

Trees, Grasses Oak Western Red Bud Redwood Sequoia Pine Cypress Cedar Fir Yew Willow Alder Aspen Sycamore Blue-eyed grass Sedges Rushes Fescue Reed grass Wild Rye

Shrubs, Plants, Flowers Manzanita Ceanothus (California Lilac) Sage Currant Fern Lupine Columbine California poppy Heuchera Dicentra Brodiaeas Blue Dicks Morning glory Clarkia Wild rose Wild grape Clematis Wood Strawberry Matilija Fried Egg Plant

Native Perennials to the United States Milkweed Echinacea Black-eyed Susan Butterfly Weed Aster Creeping Phlox Bee Balm Bluebells Lobelia Hydrangea Acanthus

Gaillardia Trillium Coreopsis Bluestem Grass Honeysuckle Switchgrass Blazing Star Dogwood Iris Gaura Trumpet vine Elderberry

These are just a few of the thousands of natives you can discover at your nursery. A large variety of succulents and cacti are also available. It is important to remember that every plant is native to someplace. When choosing a species, you want to make sure it will grow well in your microclimate.

Because natives have adapted to our land, they won’t struggle for survival. They are strong players requiring less work, water, and food as they work in harmony with our ecosystem. Natives are an advantageous addition to any garden as they support bees, butterflies, and birds, bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our landscapes.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide

BEWARE the tick. Ticks are attacking and they are not just on the deer. Keep your lawns mowed and the brush cleared. Rid your yard of Japanese barberry as this invasive species is a haven for ticks.

KEEP deer from nibbling your new sprouts by installing a nine to twelve-foot deer fence. Unfortunately, all of the natural remedies including soap, hair, sprinklers, whirlybirds, lights, and noise are not effective long term.

RE-POT orchids in spring if they are root bound or the planting medium has broken down. Most orchids need to be repotted every two to three years. If you notice green root tips on plump white roots, it is time to divide. Re-pot in lightly packed fir bark or sphagnum moss using a container large enough to allow for two more years of growth.

DIMINISH spring allergies by always removing your shoes before entering your home. Change your clothes, shower before bedtime to keep the pollen from gathering on your sheets. Ramp up your house cleaning efforts by dusting, vacuuming, and mopping often.

SHARPEN lawnmower blades for a cleaner cut. Stay off the grass if it has been raining as walking on wet grass damages the blades and the roots.

SNIP the flowers off bolting arugula kale lettuces, and other leafy vegetables to prevent the plants from going to seed. Add the flowers to salads, soups, and sauces or decorate your plates.

MARK your calendars: April 21 is Easter. Fill baskets for garden lovers with my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener available with extra freebies at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

April 22 is Earth Day April 28 is the Annual Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch www.fwrna.org/annual-wildlife-festival.html

May 11 is the Moraga Community Faire. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to celebrate nature, books, and kids.www.bethestaryouare.org/events

    Wishing you a hippity hoppity happy Bunny Day on Easter!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing, Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1304/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-for-April-Natures-Natives.html

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

  Keywords: #california natives, #native plants,#gardening, #cynthia brian, #starstyle, #goddess Gardener, #growig with the goddess gardener, #lamorinda weekly

[harleyandcleomommy2-blog]

Fun Facts about ball pythons

Fun Facts About Ball Pythons:

Ball Python (Python regius)

The ball python is quite simply the most popular pet python in the world. Ball pythons are generally a bit shy, but they make for ideal captives, because they are of a small size, are generally friendly, are easy to care for, and come in a remarkable array of colors and patterns.

Ball pythons are native to central and western Africa and thrive in these warm, tropical areas. They are known as the royal python in many parts of the world and are revered in some areas of Africa.

Ball pythons make for a quality pet for the first-time keeper and experienced herpetoculturists alike. Each year, breeders create incredible, innovative, never-before-seen pattern and color variations that continually generate new fans of the ball python.

Ball Python Availability

Ball pythons are quite easy to acquire. They are commonly available from pet stores, reptile breeders, reptile expos, and through online vendors and breeders. The best choice will always be captive born and bred snakes because they are usually parasite free and most likely the healthiest. Any ball python should be well-started and eating prior to purchase.

Ball Python Size

Ball python hatchlings are approximately 10 inches in length. Adult female ball pythons average 3 to 5 feet long, and adult male ball pythons average 2 to 3 feet in size. This is a species in which mature females are typically much larger than the males. A 5-foot ball python is considered big, although lengths of 6 feet or more have been reported.

Ball Python Life Span

With proper care, ball pythons can live 30 years or more. The record age for a ball python is more than 40 years – so plan on a long life for your new pet snake

Ball Python Caging

Ball python enclosures can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to care for. Remember that the more you put in the cage, the more you have to clean and disinfect on a regular basis. That said, there are different enclosures that work well for ball pythons, including, but not limited to, plastic sweaterboxes (i.e. Rubbermaid), melamine racks and any of the commercially available, plastic-type reptile cages. Glass aquariums and tanks are adequate for ball pythons, but the screen tops on such enclosures can make it very difficult to maintain proper humidity levels.

Juvenile ball pythons seem to do well in small enclosures that make them feel secure. A small snake in a big cage can become overwhelmed and stressed. Adult ball pythons do not require exceptionally large or elaborate enclosures either. A 36-inch by 18-inch by 12-inch enclosure will more than comfortably house an adult ball python.

Spot-clean your ball python's enclosure as necessary. Remove feces and urates as soon as possible. Do a complete tear-down every 30 days by removing all substrate and cage accessories and completely disinfecting with a 5 percent bleach solution. Rinse the enclosure thoroughly with water, and allow it to dry completely before replacing cage accessories and your snake.

The one cage accessory that is required for a happy ball python is a good hide box. . . maybe even a couple of them. Ball pythons are secretive snakes that appreciate and utilize hide spots. Provide one on each end of your python's enclosure so that it doesn't have to choose between temperature and security. Clay flowerpots, plastic flowerpot trays and commercially available hide boxes all work well.

Ball Python Lighting and Temperature

Remember that enclosures must allow for a proper thermal gradient that the ball python can utilize, with a hotspot on one end of the enclosure and a cool spot on the other. Provide your ball python with a basking spot temperature of 88 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature of 78 to 80 degrees. The ambient temperature should not fall below 75 degrees. It is vitally important to know the temperatures at which you are keeping your snake(s). Do not guess! A great way to monitor temperatures is to use a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe. Stick the thermometer to the inside of the cage on the cool end and place the probe on the warm end, and you'll have both sides covered at once.

There are several ways to go about heating a ball python enclosure. Undercage heating pads and tapes, ceramic heat emitters, basking bulbs (both regular daytime and red night bulbs) are just a few. With heat emitters and basking bulbs, it is crucial to keep an eye on the humidity within the enclosure, especially if combined with a screen top, as both will dry the air quickly. Use thermostats, rheostats and/or timers to control your heat source. Do not use hot rocks with snakes as they can heat unevenly over too small of a surface area and can cause serious burns.

Supplemental lighting is not necessary for ball pythons, but if used should run on a 12/12 cycle, meaning 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Continuous bright, overhead lighting is stressful to snakes, especially a nocturnal species such as the ball python. Ball pythons seem to prefer humidity levels of 50 to 60 percent. Maintaining proper humidity will allow your ball python to shed properly.

Ball Python Substrate

Newspapers and paper towels are the cheapest and easiest substrates for ball pythons with regards to cleaning and disinfecting – out with the old, in with the new. Cypress mulch and orchid bark are great substrates for controlling humidity, but remember that too much humidity can be as detrimental (if not more) as too little. Never use any substrate containing cedar, as it contains oils that can be deadly to reptiles! Avoid sand, shavings and peat bedding.

What Food to Feed a Ball Python

Feed your ball python an appropriately sized rodent weekly. "Appropriately sized" means prey items that are no bigger in circumference than the ball python at its largest circumference. Ball pythons can eat rats from the time they are young – starting off with rat pups or "crawlers" at first and moving up in size as they grow. Do not handle your ball python for at least a day after feeding, as this can lead to regurgitation. Ball pythons can be fed frozen/thawed or pre-killed rodents. Never leave a live rodent unattended with any snake, as they can injure the snake.

Ball pythons are well-known for not eating at certain times throughout the year, particularly in the winter months. Be prepared for the possibility of your ball python going off feed, and keep an observant eye on the snake's overall condition and body weight. This is typically nothing to worry about with healthy, well-established pythons, although it can be extremely frustrating to the snakekeeper. If your ball python is healthy, continue your husbandry routine as usual, but keep the amount of handling to a minimum. Offer your ball python food every 10 to 14 days until it is interested in eating again, as the snake will eventually resume feeding normally.

Feed adult ball pythons every 1 to 2 weeks and younger ball pythons weekly as they need this energy to grow. Do not be alarmed if a well-started ball python goes off feed during the cooler, drier times of the year, as this is common in captivity. Snakes generally do not eat while they are in the shed cycle.

Ball Python Water

Always have fresh, clean water available for your ball python. Check the water daily. The size of the water dish is up to you. If it is large enough for the ball python to crawl in to and soak, sooner or later your snake will make the most of the opportunity – ball pythons seem to enjoy a nice soak from time to time. Ensure that the water bowl is not too deep for juvenile animals – 1 inch or so will suffice. Snakes of many species will defecate in their water bowls from time to time, so be prepared to clean and disinfect the water bowl. The water bowl should be cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis. Having a spare water bowl for such occasions can be handy, so that one may be used while the other is being cleaned.

Ball Python Handling and Temperament

Ball pythons are generally shy and will spend much of their time hiding. Your ball python may initially see you as a threat and it must learn who you are. The goal is to establish trust between you and your snake.

Always support your ball python’s body and avoid fast movements. Once a ball python realizes that you will not hurt it they often seem to enjoy being handled. Some ball pythons may try to hide when handled and occasionally there are ones that may even bite due to excessive fear. These ball pythons may require a bit more time to settle in and establish trust. A ball python’s bite is a superficial wound. If a snake looks like it is going to strike, it is best to not handle it. Relax when holding your animal – sit down and give the animal a chance to settle.

Some snakes may not eat for several hours or longer after being handled, so avoid handling if you plan to feed. After a snake has eaten it may be a good idea to limit the handling because it may be uncomfortable for the animal. Avoid putting your snake’s cage in a heavy traffic area, excessive movement, and other pets should be avoided.

Kevin McCurley is the source for Ball Python care and information. Visit his website at NewEnglandReptile.com.

Sponsored Content on Reptiles Magazine

[patsnaturenotes]

Catching Up Part 1

The end of summer and early autumn have slipped by without any posts to this journal.  We have moved from summer heat and long days to looking at morning lows dipping closer to freezing. This morning (October 11) it was 35F at 0800, but we've not had a killing frost yet.

I will work backwards in time to get caught up.  This week I am estimating that about half of dogwoods have turned from green to their autumn red color. Less than 10% of oak leaves are changing color.  The apple trees are green.  We have had 2 or 3 days of strong winds and the ground is covered with fir and pine needles.  I have been seeing (and hearing) small flocks of robins -- they feed on dogwood fruit this time of year.  Small flocks of Dark-eyed juncos flit about eating seed from the ground.  Red-breasted nuthatches chitter and call from the forest. Steller's jays are not as noisy as a month ago. I see a couple of Band-tailed pigeons now and then.

October 5:  Low of 40F at 0700. carol brings a dead woodpecker for me to identify. She found it on a neighbor's deck. It is a Red-breasted sapsucker.

September 28:  At 0930 I am up at the corner (curve) on Grizzly Lane loading wood chips into the truck for garden mulch. The dogs are off doing their sniff and wander. I hear Ben barking up hill and a few minutes later a very large black bear comes barreling down the hill, across the road and further off into the woods crashing as it goes. It's fur is brownish & looks unruly.  Ben follows it, barking and crashing for maybe another 500 yards before returning.

September 20-26:  Carol and I take a fall camping trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  We enter Kings Canyon NP on Sept. 21 under cloudy skies and rain showers that clear as the day progresses.  My mind's eye mostly focuses on the grandness of the area.  The giant sequoias are almost overwhelming.   The trees' girths so immense; their lowest branches reaching diameters that trees of most other species rarely achieve.  I also am amazed by the extent of tree mortality.  Vistas reveal vast tracts of coniferous forests burned black by the Rough Fire. More interesting to me are the pines and firs that are dead and dying in the "giant" groves -- this die off seems to be more natural.  These groves have been dominated by the sequoias for thousands of years. Other species encroach, but die back -- now it seems from bugs/disease; but probably in the past the encroachment was kept in check by fire. The NPS is working to use fire again in the groves and in some places we saw the beneficial effects of this work.  We traveled from Grants Grove down into the Kings River Canyon (Sept 22) and returned a day later (Sept 23).  We traveled east & down out of the high country, but with the High Sierras looming large above us. This area is more xeric -- to the extent that it is more chaparral with yucca growing on the hillsides.  The river valley is lush and seemed dominated by cedar (thus Cedar Grove where we stayed).  An interesting geologic observation.  The western part of Kings Canyon is steep and deeply incised -- a "V" shaped canyon. This is a canyon cut by flowing water. Further east (vicinity of Cedar Grove) the canyon opens up -- is wider and is "U" shaped. This is a canyon shaped by glaciers.

The best critter observations on this part of the trip:  A pair of bears -- a cub and a very young sow. The sow has a radio collar indicating that she likely has had a little too much interaction with humans. We watch the cub and mom roll and play. At one point the cub picks up a stick to play with (like a puppy would).  The other observation was of a small "colony" of Acorn woodpeckers on the edge of a meadow. Three or 4 birds were actively digging hole sin dead cottonwoods and pines and storing acorns in the holes. It almost seemed like there was some division of labor -- some birds primarily digging and expanding holes while others flew off to bring back acorns that they packed into the holes.

September 24-26; We travel south to Sequoia NP.  We took the tourist-obligatory walk to the General Sherman Tree in the Giant Forest. Again too awe-inspiring to put into words.  In the late afternoon we hiked around a meadow ringed with giants.  Towards the end of the loop we encountered a bear sow and 2 cubs and watched them for a good bit of time. -- cubs climbing trees; mother wandering into the meadow to eat grass and tear apart logs.

We camped at a lower elevation (Buckeye Flat) at maybe 3,000 ft elevation. The buckeyes and redbuds that made up a lot of the vegetation were trees -- co-dominant with the oaks.  In and around this campground we had some good bird observations:  on Sept 24th I saw a Ladder-backed woodpecker. It was a clear, clean observation of a bird that doesn't seem to be very common on the western slopes of the southern Sierrras.  we took a short walk up the Middle Fork Kaweah River from the campground (Sept 26). we didn't see a lot until we saw three band-tailed pigeons flying down river. A few minutes later we saw a Peregrine falcon zip by to the south and then a pigeon flying upstream with the falcon in hot pursuit. Maybe 5 minutes later the flacon returned south. we don't know the fate of the pigeon.

Back in the Giant Forest, we take two hikes with very few tourists. The morning hike was around the Log Meadow. I will remember it as a woodpecker hike. We saw White-headed, hairy & pileated woodpeckers and a Northern Flicker. we also saw a Northern Harrier, which seemed a bit odd for the high Sierra terrain.  We saw a Marmot holed up in Tharp's Log (a downed hollow log with a cabin built into it) and back near the parking lot a sow and cubs in the meadow. The afternoon hike was to Bobcat Overlook. A nice loop that we had to ourselves.  we crossed a small stream flowing over granite (with ancient mortars drilled into the rock). In one opening in the forest (with lots of dead trees) we had the most diverse birding of the trip -- everything from Western Bluebirds to Mountain Quail.

On Sept 26 on our way out of the park we stopped for a short hike to look at some wonderful petroglyphs on an overhang. Below the art were more mortars.

I will start another entry later that reaching back into the last month of summer -- to the time of the solar eclipse.

[goddessgardener]

Nature’s Natives

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Witnessed from outer space this spring, a pageant of splendor burst into bloom on hillsides, in fields, chaparrals, and desert environs. The “super blooms” of Southern California captivated hearts and cameras. Northern California is exhibiting a bountiful season of blue lupines, orange poppies, and gardens filled with flowers, just not to the degree of our neighbors to the south.

Although weeds are described as plants growing where we don’t want them, weeds are in proliferation after our continual wet days. Wild cut leaf geranium resembles a ground cover when small with tiny pink petals, yet it is a weed that needs to be pulled before it scatters seeds. Hand removal of invasive grasses is also necessary as they create fire danger while outcompeting native flora for light, water, space, and food.

More than 18,000 plant species are native to the United States and approximately 6000 species are endemic to California. To be considered a true California native, the plants must have grown here before the late 18th century when the Europeans arrived. Our state flower, the California poppy, as well as lupines, fuchsias, and other “natives” were actually first cultivated in the gardens of Europe, yet we have adopted them as our own. We are blessed to grow numerous flora inhabitants from the Mediterranean that have acclimated to our mild four seasons and adapted to our clay soil. I have termed these friends, such as lavender and acanthus, “the new natives” as I like to include them in my garden designs. 

Natives are drought tolerant after they have been established, although they will require water if the weather has been exceptionally dry. They are wildlife attractors bringing songbirds, lizards, salamanders, butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators into the landscape.  Minimal maintenance is required without dependence on pesticides or fertilizers. Top dressing all plants with mulch to maintain a constant temperature while reducing erosion and temperature fluctuations is advantageous.

For year-round interest, select a variety of natives that bloom during each of the twelve months. Wildflowers are fussy as transplants therefore for a spring show, sow seeds in the fall to allow the winter water to promote a strong root system. Plants with tiny seeds can live dormant in the underground seed bank for 80 years or more depending on the optimum conditions to coax them above ground to flower, fruit, and set seed. 

A Sampling of Favorite California Natives 

Trees, Grasses 

Oak 

Western Red Bud

Redwood

Sequoia

Pine

Cypress

Cedar

Fir

Yew

Willow

Alder

Aspen

Sycamore

Blue-eyed grass

Sedges

Rushes

Fescue

Reed grass

Wild Rye

Shrubs, Plants, Flowers

Manzanita

Ceanothus (California Lilac)

Sage

Currant

Fern

Lupine

Columbine

California poppy

Heuchera

Dicentra

Brodiaeas

Blue Dicks

Morning glory

Clarkia

Wild rose

Wild grape

Clematis

Wood Strawberry

Matilija Fried Egg Plant

Native Perennials to the United States

Milkweed

Echinacea

Black-eyed Susan

Butterfly Weed

Aster

Creeping Phlox

Bee Balm

Bluebells

Lobelia

Hydrangea

Acanthus

Gaillardia

Trillium

Coreopsis

Bluestem Grass

Honeysuckle

Switchgrass

Blazing Star 

Dogwood

Iris

Gaura

Trumpet vine

Elderberry

These are just a few of the thousands of natives you can discover at your nursery. A large variety of succulents and cacti are also available. It is important to remember that every plant is native to someplace. When choosing a species, you want to make sure it will grow well in your microclimate.

Because natives have adapted to our land, they won’t struggle for survival. They are strong players requiring less work, water, and food as they work in harmony with our ecosystem. Natives are an advantageous addition to any garden as they support bees, butterflies, and birds, bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our landscapes.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide

BEWARE the tick. Ticks are attacking and they are not just on the deer. Keep your lawns mowed and the brush cleared.  Rid your yard of Japanese barberry as this invasive species is a haven for ticks. 

KEEP deer from nibbling your new sprouts by installing a nine to twelve-foot deer fence. Unfortunately, all of the natural remedies including soap, hair, sprinklers, whirlybirds, lights, and noise are not effective long term. 

RE-POT orchids in spring if they are root bound or the planting medium has broken down. Most orchids need to be repotted every two to three years. If you notice green root tips on plump white roots, it is time to divide. Re-pot in lightly packed fir bark or sphagnum moss using a container large enough to allow for two more years of growth.

DIMINISH spring allergies by always removing your shoes before entering your home.  Change your clothes, shower before bedtime to keep the pollen from gathering on your sheets. Ramp up your house cleaning efforts by dusting, vacuuming, and mopping often.

SHARPEN lawnmower blades for a cleaner cut. Stay off the grass if it has been raining as walking on wet grass damages the blades and the roots.

SNIP the flowers off bolting arugula kale lettuces, and other leafy vegetables to prevent the plants from going to seed. Add the flowers to salads, soups, and sauces or decorate your plates.

MARK your calendars: 

April 21 is Easter. Fill baskets for garden lovers with my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener available with extra freebies at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store April 22 is Earth Day

April 28 is the Annual Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch www.fwrna.org/annual-wildlife-festival.html

May 11 is the Moraga Community Faire. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to celebrate nature, books, and kids.www.bethestaryouare.org/events

Wishing you a hippity hoppity happy Bunny Day on Easter!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing,

Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1304/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-for-April-Natures-Natives.html

Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. 

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. 

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com