Native Plants are not always known for their blatant displays of beauty, but here we give you a chance to divulge deeper and see a different type of beauty; one of that is alive, healthy and thriving. One of our favorite parts about native landscaping is its ability to develop a rich ecosystem in the immediate space surrounding your home. The delightful noise of buzzing bees, sight of Monarch butterflies, and the calming aroma of sage are all senses you experience when approaching this hillside haven. Native plants – like the ones that flourish atop this hidden gem in Bird Rock, CA are habitat and food for pollinators. Bees gleefully buzz from African Blue Basil, to Cleveland sage and bound over to the California Buckwheat for some added nourishment.
Evolving within the local seasons, soil and overall environment pollinators and native plants have a whole lot of history. This symbiotic relationship not only helps to nourish the overall ecosystem of landscapes, but helps to increase yields of those beloved organic fruits and vegetables. But, who wants a swarm of bees and bugs surrounding their home? We’re hoping you don’t mind a few extra guests as these pollinators act as beneficials to your entire garden. They are indeed the perfect houseguest. A diverse population of pollinators is of utmost importance to maintain the livelihood of a sustainable, organic environment. Other predatory beneficial insects like wasps, spiders, and ladybugs also act as natural safeguards from those pesky things we know as pests.
As mentioned, happy pollinators make for happy crops. And even surprising ones at that – we found a treat in the form of an early spaghetti squash growing from a vine that climes the sustainable brick wall in the backyard. A delicious Hollywood plum tree adds a great burgundy accent to your neutral shades of natives. Looking for some delicious veggies to mix and mingle with your natives – we recommend adding Japanese eggplants to your repertoire and even a blend of herbs including rosemary to line your pathways.
On this particular setting we added mulch to the ground that provides conditions for beneficial microbes enriching the soil. A few tips for proper mulching! A 3-4” layer is generally recommended and you don’t want to place mulch at the base or crown of any trees as it may cause excessive moisture and cause unwanted rot. Remember there is such a thing as organic and synthetic mulches. Organic mulches, derived from natural materials, decompose adding those delicious nutrients while plastic or synthetic mulches do not provide this benefit.
Interested in an organic mulch delivery, have other landscape questions, or want to get started planning your own native plant and edible landscape? Contact Revolution Landscape now!