Nn-2023-autumn

^ Cool Plants

Good plants noted in late 2023, some native xeric for pollinators and cold hardy . . .

• https://www.highcountrygardens.com/product/perennial-plants/chamaebatiaria-millefolium
• https://www.highcountrygardens.com/product/perennial-plants/agastache-neomexicana
• https://www.highcountrygardens.com/product/perennial-plants/butterfly-weed-hello-yellow-asclepias

Giant sequioas in band pots

• https://scenichillfarmnursery.com/products/giant-sequoia-tree-potted-in-5-deep-band-pot-12-18-tall
Yosemite National Park wildflowers
• https://www.yosemitehikes.com/wildflowers/yosemite-wildflowers-guide.htm
• https://www.yosemitehikes.com/wildflowers/mountain-misery/mountain-misery.htm . . . Bear clover, Chamaebatia foliolosa
• https://www.yosemitehikes.com/wildflowers/pink-flowers.htm
• https://www.yosemitehikes.com/wildflowers/yosemite-lewisia/yosemite-lewisia.htm
• https://www.yosemitehikes.com/wildflowers/harlequin-lupine/harlequin-lupine.htm

Cold hardy cacti and succulents

• https://hscactus.org/galleries/2023-cold-hardy-gardening/

C e l e d o n i o . . . Spanish name uncommon, means "swallow" as in type of bird




^ Raised bed front northwest

Create rounded raised bed with medium retainer blocks, to provide space for yucca and agave plants.

(1) build retaining wall between front northwest yard rhododendron and agave ovatifolia


Clean up:
[ ] remove dead rhododendron stump
[ ] attempt to move self air rooted rhododendron branch
[x] remove copiced oak tree
[x] weed
Preparation:
[ ] dig trench for gravel footing for wall
[ ] set blocks
[ ] backfill and cover with screen
[ ] determine terracing steps north of new raised bed


^ Planting and Potting

(2) pot up hardy hibiscus from 57th street

[x] pot up four hibiscus planted atop ground and mounded in place [ ] pot or plant in ground n hibiscus from five gallon bucket


(3) smaller planting jobs

[ ] pot and label vine maple and Japanese maple one-gallon seed groups [ ] plant loose AB iris rhizomes [ ] plant BB Cranapple iris divisions [ ] plant AB Perry Dyer iris divisions, two sites [ ] locate and plant in ground agastache in white pots [ ] divide first and oldest red hot poker




^ Northeast Retaining Wall

(4) Complete first section northeast large block retaining wall

This northmost section of the north third backyard retaining wall is planned for using larger residential retaining blocks, blocks twelve inches across and six inches tall. About eight inches deep. This section of wall will entail two terrace levels, the lower about four feet tall while graduated at one end (goes from half a foot up to four feet following the slope of the yard space) and the second wall also graduation at north most end and quickly rising up to about five feet.

The taller wall sections will be back filled with angular rock of size range three to six inches. The back fill rock will be of thickness of one foot for the lower terrace wall and about two feet for the upper terrace wall. Geotech fabric will be laid on the cut soil face, weighted at the top edges with large blocks or stones.

The upper terrace will extend five feet from the fence line.

The lower terrace wall construction takes place first, to provide a layer of blocks on which the second layer can be set at its starting point close to the northeast corner of the property. First soil to remove as of 2023 Q4 is for this lower wall. The lower wall placement is planned for between three and three and a half feet from the north fence (fence which runs east west) Approaching the northeast property corner the lower wall may be gently curved out before reaching near the property corner to allow for larger oak tree roots to remain in place undisturbed. A tall oak tree on the neighboring easterly property provide shade, habitat and a beautiful skyward view and should be prioritized for care and non-disturbance.

Some near term 2023 Q4 tasks include:

[ ] move arrow bamboo, smaller clump to new temporary location further south
[ ] remove remaining soil for lower level terrace, north run
[ ] place gravel six inches deep in base bed trench for lower retaining block wall





^ Rain Covers 2023

Build or repair following desert plant rain covers: [ ] cover for largest mangave
[ ] cover for agave "Jaws"
[ ] cover for first planted agave salmiana on backyard hillside
[ ] cover for agave ovatifolia on backyard hillside
[ ] cover for agave seedlings west of agave salmiana at front block wall
[ ] cover for agave parryi next to Columbia desert parsley
[ ] cover for agave parryi next to HCG monardella red flowering groundcover
[ ] cover in front of north most arbor vitae on backyard hillside