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Red Chairs and Fire Pit
Mexican Weeping Bamboo
Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
California Pepper, Mission Pepper
New Zealand Flax, Purple
Aloe Vera or Medicinal Aloe
Mexican Weeping Bamboo

Common name:Mexican Weeping Bamboo
Botanical name:Otatea acuminata aztecorum

This Bamboo is an exotic plant that has tall fronds that sway in the wind like a kelp bed forest. This plant can be invasive.

Mondo Grass, Lily Grass

Common name:Mondo Grass, Lily Grass
Botanical name:Ophiopogon japonicus

This Ophiopogon japonicus is a grass-like plant growing to about 6"-8" high. Its leaves are 1/8" wide, and about 8"-12" long. It makes a beautiful ground cover or accent plant, and does well in Asian style gardens.

California Pepper, Mission Pepper

Common name:California Pepper, Mission Pepper
Botanical name:Schinus molle

The California Pepper is a fast growing evergreen tree that will mature to a height of 25'-40' and as wide. Its bright green leaves are divided into many narrow, 1.5"-2" long leaflets.

New Zealand Flax, Purple

Common name:New Zealand Flax, Purple
Botanical name:Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum'

Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves can reach 5' tall. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1"-2" blossoms in dark red.

Aloe Vera or Medicinal Aloe

Common name:Aloe Vera or Medicinal Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe vera

The rosette of this plant consists of fleshy gray green leaves, which are narrow, succulent and erect with soft spines on margins. This Aloe is a slow to moderate grower. Flowers are spikes of yellow, 2'-3' tall and bloom late winter to summer. This aloe can form large clumps. It will tolerate full to partial sun, needs some supplemental water in heat and good drainage. It attracts hummingbirds. This aloe is a Mediterranean native. The sap is used for burns and abrasions.

Designer: Anon.

Red Chairs and Fire Pit

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Lawn watering more than 5 minutes usually results in runoff. Use multiple cycle starts.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.