Don't Touch The Water

Seriously? You're going to build this big beautiful shallow stream, connect it to a pedestrian mall with an enticing sun-drenched lawn... then say "no water contact allowed"?

Nice.

Who's Blooming Today: Juan

Not to be left behind, the first few Tulipa 'Juan' started blooming
today. In addition to the name and the fantastic hot orange/yellow
flower, I really like the purple variegation on the foliage. This has
naturalized quite nicely here in Palo Alto; again, from www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
.

Who's Blooming Today: Lady Jane

The first buch of Tulipa 'Lady Jane' opened up today, one year
naturalized. (That's fragrant Narcissus 'Falconet' in the background.)
Both from www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com.

Sights, Sounds and Synthetic Compounds of Spring

The sun's been shining for a week now, so it's officially spring around here no matter what the calendar or thermometer say. If you need further proof: both my neighbor and I busted out our lawn mowers in the last week for the first time in months; my broccoli, which I swear I just planted, has bolted and gone to flower; the annual weeds like dandelion and Italian ryegrass have kicked it into overdrive and set seed already.

In other words, this is the time of year when our gardens are most likely to get away from us. A little rain, a little sun, a little extra warmth, and everyone's feeling happy. But for those of us who desire to chaperone the party a bit, this can also be a very challenging time, and it's when we are most likely to break out the RoundUp, Corry's Slug & Snail Death and other chemical assistants to give us a hand.

As much as I prefer gardening organically, I recognize the realities of modern life; I also much prefer a handwritten note to email, or reading the newspaper to reading a blog, yet here we are. I also will not be out in my yard hoeing away every last ryegrass seed, so chemicals can be a "technology" I use to achieve my goals with the time and energy I do have.

Like any tool or technology, RoundUp is not inherently evil. Sure, it may have been created by evil men (although I doubt it), it may harm the earth and its inhabitants, and there's no question that it's integral to the morally corrupt business strategies of companies like Monsanto. But on its own? RoundUp is just a chemical compound, and it's up to you and me to use it responsibly.

The chemical isn't the problem. The problem is, we lose sight of our real goals (a vibrant, healthy garden environment) in the glare of short-term fixes. Add to that the urgency panic inspired by a garden quickly outpacing us, and our tendency is to grab the nearest solution and drench our problems with it. But if we stop, take a jasmine-scented breath, and think, we can actually make choices that fulfill our short- and long-term needs. For weed control, try repeated applications of undiluted vinegar, or boiling water, or boiling undiluted vinegar (after a reality check). For slugs and snails, an iron-phosphate compound such as Sluggo is extremely safe (and more convenient than beer traps).

There is no shortage of organic gardening blogs out there, as well as Cooperative Extension offices with expertise far beyond what I'll ever accrue, including strategies for integrated pest management. Start there, then take another look at the garden you really want to have... does RoundUp really belong in it?

I Hate Being Right About This

Rain or no rain, it's officially a drought emergency. I hate being right about things like this.

So: are you ready to cut your water consumption by 20%? Even before you kill your lawn, schedule a house call: water agencies in San Francisco, the East Bay, Redwood City, and most* of Santa Clara County offer free basic inspections that calculate water usage and point out opportunities for conservation both indoors and out. Santa Clara Valley Water District also is hosting a "Water Efficient Landscaping Workshop Series" including one of my favorite local designers, Alrie Middlebrook.

*California Water Service doesn't offer house calls, but does offer free fixtures and other resources for their customers in Los Altos, Los Altos HIlls, Menlo Park, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Carlos, San Mateo and South San Francisco.

And if you want to get an in-depth analysis of your landscape water use, contact a certified irrigation contractor, who will put your system through its paces and really optimize it according to detailed, standardized guidelines.

The prospect of reducing our water use by 1/5 is about as cheering as the stock market these days. But if you've been considering changing up your landscape, this is an opportunity to do it right — and perhaps even get paid for it! With a little professional advice, you can wind up with a yard that is easy on the eyes, easy on the wallet, and easy on the earth as well.