Garden Activities: May 12, 2026

With a detour of 2 of Tuesday’s volunteers, the group focused on the stand of matilija poppies by the gravel path from the service area. Dale Harshberger and Janet Wall went to the S. African Garden where they planted a Felicia amelloides or commonly called a blue marguerite or blue daisy bush. Thanks to Dale for donating this plant. After getting that in the ground, they joined the rest of us to continue the sprucing up of the matilija poppy stand given the Matilija Festival Sunday. Sadly that stand which for several years has spread and always looked fantastic is looking poorly. We don’t know the reason for this turn-around, but speculate it may have something to do with the heavier than normal rain early followed by unseasonably warm/hot winter weather then followed by a dry spell that is continuing.

In addition to Dale and Janet, the Tuesday Crew comprised: Julia Appelrouth, Bill Dobner, Beverly Kemmerling, Katie Shank, Susanna Mac, Anna Wiktor-Becker and myself. Bill worked the compost.

At the beginning of the morning Beverly got a picture of the group:

Janet, Anna, Dale, Julia, Susanna, yours truly and Katie.

The main objectives were to rid the stand of mustard and star thistle.

Anna working her way through the tangle of poppies to reach pockets of weeds.

When in the area, we noticed that where poppies had been coming up in and adjacent to the gravel path, it was now quite clear.

It actually looks really good. One beneficiary is the recumbent coyote brush which formerly needed poppy and weed removal between them and the path so they could get enough light and be visible. We must have Jim Cyr to thank for this change with help, I assume, from a non-Tuesday volunteer, or volunteers. The coyote brush is now on the edge of the cleared area which is good for it and for passers by who can now see a very successful and easily grown native ground cover.

The green waste bin appeared full of material so we had to gauge how much room could be generated by the application of a compacting mechanism. Katie and Susanna generously agreed to fulfill that role and indeed created enough space to accommodate the weeds and dead poppy stems gathered.

Right at the base the Butterfly Garden are a couple of natives in full bloom:

Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland sage) and Mimulus guttatus (yellow sticky monkey flower).

Finally, we always try to learn about life forms we come across in addition to the plants we’re caring for. Below is an example.

This is a harlequin bug that, if we were growing plants in the cabbage and broccoli family, we would want to step on. Given that this was the only one seen, and it didn’t appear to be a problem for the poppies, we let it be. Sorry the focus was on the gravel rather than the bug.

Thanks to Beverly and Susanna for their images.

Enjoy the garden!   KMM