Christmas Tree Recylcing

Hello! The holidays are done, now begins the clean up! One of my favorite holiday traditions is buying and decorating a large live Christmas tree. but, after carefully repacking all my precious ornaments every year, I am always left with a big, messy, outdoor plant that is now inconveniently indoors. Thankfully, the city and county of San Diego have implemented programs to facilitate the recycling of Christmas trees which is very important as the trees can be shredded into something useful instead of taking up space in landfills.

Plant of the Month: December 2009

Tagetes lemmonii Copper Canyon Daisy is in the marigold family. A shrubby perennial3-6 feet tall and wide, with 2-4" long leaves that are fragrant with a blend of marigold, mint and lemon. Golden orange flowers that peak in winter and spring.

Plant of the Month: November 2009

Prosopis alba Argentine Mesquite is a nearly evergreen and deciduous tree or shrub, requiring very little water and full sun. It is fast growing with a dense canopy of blue green leaves and spines. Some leaf drop in cold weather. Can reach heights of 30 feet.

Plant of the Month: October 2009

Mulhlenbergia lindheimeri is a narrow leafed perennial grass that is drought tolerant and likes full sun or light shade. A 5 ft. tall and wide clump of soft, arching blue-green leaves with amber flower spikes that arch 2 ft. above foliage in the fall.

Irrigation Mandate Meeting

Hi all, on September 11 we met with counsel person Fry for the City of San Diego. Our goal was to have her help us rescind the 1 day a week irrigation mandate starting November 1st.
Well everything went very well, she has the same opinion as we do. At the next counsel meeting she is going to push not reducing the 3 days a week, but to reduce run times from 10 minutes to 7 and controllers must be turned off when rain fall is greater than 1/4" and must remain off for 48 hours.
Rain fall for the City of San Diego will be measured at Lindberg field.
We think that what San Diego does the rest of the water districts will copy.
If you have any contacts with any water districts get a hold of them and push to not go to 1 day irrigation, but stay on the 3 day cycle.
Will keep you posted.
Steve.

Plant of the Month: September 2009

Dietes bicolor is also known as Moraea bicolor, African Iris and Fortnight Lily because its blooms open in two week batches. Drought tolerant once established. 1-1/2' tall with clumps spreading to 2'. Yellow flowers with magenta accents last only one day. Green sword shaped leaves. Accent plant with a tropical feel. Full sun.