Garden Activities: August 12, 2025

Now that we’re in the middle of August, the work days can be quite hot even starting at 8am. Today was no exception. The group agreed that we hadn’t been through the native areas in a while, and they happen to be shady. Today we had Bill Dobner, Wesley Hare, Dale Harshberger, Beverly Kemmerling, Julie Moffat, Katie Shank, Daryl Stutley, Nancy Taylor Walker, Ann Wright, and myself. 

I realized today that I’ve been giving Bill’s activities short shrift. In addition to the composting activities, Bill checks the plants in the shade house removing dead leaves and watering individual plants if needed. About every other week, he also hand waters all the plants in the service area which are not irrigated .

The rest of us headed for the native sections and stopped first at the area between the Chilean garden and the perimeter fence. In recent years the matilija poppies have filled in that area — which is wonderful — but their spread has blocked visual access and light to the other natives we’ve planted there. So a few weeks ago we cleared the immediate area around the Chilean wine palm, and today we cleared in front of and around the ~four recumbent coyote bushes (Baccharis pilularus).

Nancy standing to the right of a coyote bush surrounded by poppies.

After the poppies were cut away from the coyote bush.

Next we headed down toward the old Garden Gate where we cleared more poppies from around the plants on the hill. There are a few special natives in that area (island oak - Quercus tomentella e.g.) that require occasional hand watering due to either being out of range of the irrigation system, or the water its blocked by vegetation lower on the hill.

Wesley and Ann “manning’” the hose.

How many volunteers are required to hold a hose? Everyone is facing Dale (behind me) who is taking a picture of the group while Beverly is surreptitiously taking this photo from behind. Holding the hose are Daryl, Julie, Nancy and Katie. Below is the shot taken by Dale with Beverly in the background taking the shot above.

Moving on, we came upon a valley oak sapling close to the path that had obviously been cut down previously as there were numerous stump sprouts. Rather than cutting it down again entirely, we decided to cut all of the stump sprouts except the straightest one. At a later date we can cut or dig it out completely if it is deemed to be too close to the path.

Dale and yours truly.

Katie found an oak gall:

These galls are usually formed when a tiny wasp lays an egg in oak leaf tissue. The tree then responds by creating this gall that serves as both food and protection for the developing larva. Once the wasp is mature, it creates a small hole in the skin of the gall and flys away. The tree isn’t harmed.

Finally, the fairy duster plant (Calliandra californica) is one of the natives that isn't dormant in the warm months. Below is a close up of the flowers and old seed pods that long since have released their seeds. The pods when green resemble snow pea pods; which helps one remember that this plant is in the pea family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae).

Fary duster.

Many thanks to Beverly, Dale and Nancy for their images.

Enjoy the garden!   KMM