Landscaping: Two Year Report

 We are celebrating the second anniversary of our “new” landscape! It’s a good time to take stock and see how the garden is progressing. Rebecca Kolls of Rebecca’s Garden says that in the first year perennials sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. In this post I’m providing a two-year report, comparing progress against Landscaping: One Year Report; Landscaping: Six Month Report; and Landscaping: Finished. Time flies!

Path to the rock garden (Bobo the Husky in the shade to the far right)

The landscape was designed as a wildlife garden with keystone plants for food and shelter, inspired by Doug Tallamy’s work to promote personal landscapes that provide wildlife habitat. The Bird Buddy bird feeder (with camera), hummingbird feeder in the side yard, and terracotta bird bath provide for our avian visitors. The native plants and grasses provide food and habitat for birds, squirrels, and insects. The mighty oak provides deep shade for plants, animals, and people.

Path under the oak canopy

We have become more familiar with the plants, weeds, shrubs and trees in the landscape, and have developed a monthly maintenance schedule for its care. Our professional landscape maintenance team comes once a month and contributes experience, labor, and knowledge to landscape maintenance. Some of the annuals that were planted as succession plants have died off or come back with fewer plants. I could scatter some annual or perennial seed mix, but honestly, I’m enjoying the more “edited” look with fewer plants. That may change, because I do miss the bursts of annual color scattered about the yard.

We’ve lost some plants, which is to be expected. We planted a few replacement plants in November, taking advantage of the winter rains to help get the roots established. Most of the plants are happy in the place they have been planted. The garden is fairly low maintenance (once you know what is required), but weeding is definitely needed.

Path to the lower yard

After reviewing the new landscape, I am satisfied with the progress made over the last year. Most of the original plants are still alive and thriving (coming to the end of the “creep” phase). So far our only change has been to plant two Japanese maple trees in planters. They are thriving and have benefited from aesthetic pruning from our landscaping maintenance team. I’m looking forward to observing as the perennials move into the “leap” stage of their development in the new garden!

Moonlight in the Garden

The new landscape was not designed with a dog in mind! The garden plan includes a natural hedge of vegetation in place of a fence, several meadows and planting areas, and an open design. Dakota the Husky arrived with our son days before construction started, during the winter rains, and too late for design changes. Since its completion in April, Dakota has experimented with the landscape to find his favorite locations.

One spot is under the camellia tree by the fence. He has cleared away the wood chips down to the bare earth, and favors this location when the temperature soars. I'm guessing the compacted dirt is cooling in the heat, and the location feels secluded and safe during an afternoon nap (and is within hearing range of the kitchen in case anyone makes a snack that should be shared).

Dakota the Husky in the moonlight (Fallen-Leaf-Moon)

Another favorite spot is under the oak tree, surrounded by Clarkia flowers and vegetation. At various times Dakota snoozes, sniffs the air, contemplates the oak tree above, and observes the comings and goings of the neighborhood. In the evening, he loves hanging out in this spot in the cool evening air. The garden was not designed with a dog in mind, but it is being adapted for Dakota the Husky!

Bird Buddy

We love to watch the birds that visit our yard, and recently added a Bird Buddy feeder to our renovated landscape. The feeder is solar powered and includes a camera for capturing images of the birds that stop by to feed. The bird feeder is mounted on a tall, squirrel-proof pole. You can monitor the feeder through an app on your smartphone, download snapshots, and subscribe to postcards of birds visiting other feeders.

Bird Buddy feeder ready for visitors

At first, we didn't receive any feathered visitors, but the literature indicates that it can take several weeks before birds discover the feeder and feel comfortable approaching. A couple of times we had "almost visitors", but they didn't stay.

An Oak Titmouse now visits regularly (this time bringing a tasty insect)

Finally an Oak Titmouse visited the feeder, and it's been busy ever since. Here is a shot of an Oak Titmouse and the insect it brought!

Urban Pastoral

Spring has come to the San Francisco Bay Area (made all the better because of all the rain we've received). The path around Bishop Lake in San Ramon is well used by office tenants and those from the surrounding community. The landscaping provides a slice of nature in the midst of an urban center, and a great place to enjoy a solitary walk, walk the dog, or meet up with friends or workmates, 

Urban pastoral in San Ramon

On this day, some ducks and geese rested on the water, while a cormorant sits high in a tree surveying the scene. In the foreground, the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is in full bloom.

Eastern Fox Squirrels

Join me in the landscape to watch the local squirrels drinking at the water dishes and carrying out their daily routines. According to Wild Oakland, the main squirrel found in the East Bay is the Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). The fox squirrel's natural range extends through much of the eastern United States, north into the southern prairie provinces of Canada, and west to the Dakotas, Colorado, and Texas. They have been introduced to northern and southern California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico, plus Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

The fox squirrel’s coloring differs by geographical area, but in most areas the animal's upper body is brown-grey to brown-yellow with a typically brownish-orange underside. In our yard, they gather and stash acorns from the oak tree for food (sometimes planting a tree in the process). Last year I saw one eating a mushroom that had poked through the wood chips after winter rains. I had never seen that before, and was curious if they were especially delicious mushrooms or if the ongoing drought had impacted the acorn supply. Fox squirrels use leaf nests or tree cavities about 30 feet up for shelter and litter rearing. So far I have never noticed a leaf nest, but they may be hidden in plain sight!

Neighborhood fox squirrel drinking at one of the water dishes

The fox squirrels approach the water dishes boldly, and take long drinks (but watch warily the whole time). The are industrious and spend a lot of time burying acorns; and frequently rebury them if they catch you watching. The squirrels are fast moving - dashing nimbly across the ground, and springing from branch to branch overhead. We enjoy watching them at work and play from the patio, however I find them difficult to film (you'll notice a lot of blurry shots). Sometimes I have to just put down the camera and watch them in real time!

Learn More:

• Oakland Wiki - Learn about the four squirrel types that are found in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Eastern Fox Squirrel that is the typical type in the East Bay.

• Wikipedia, Fox Squirrels - Learn all about the Eastern Fox Squirrel.

Mourning Doves

Join me for more bird watching in our urban yard. Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are in the dove family, Columbidae. They are native to North America and their range spans the continental United States, extending north into Southern Canada and south into Mexico and the Bermuda archipelago. They are in shades of gray, brown, and tan, with black spots on the wings and sometimes on the neck. 

Mourning Doves make a distinctive mournful call by puffing up the throat while keeping the bill closed. The wings make a whistling sound upon take-off and landing, using sonation (sounds produced by bird body parts other than vocal organs). 

Where California scrub jays have moxie, mourning doves seem serene, sedate, and wary. They spend a lot of time foraging in grass and wood chips for insects, and even resting on the ground. Mourning doves approach the water dish stealthily, taking their time. They drink, and then often fly straight upward as though startled (or, are they startling the observer)? Enjoy time with our local wildlife.

Learn More:

• The Cornell Lab, All About Birds: Mourning Dove. Listen to sound recordings of their mournful calls and fluttering wings.

• Wikipedia: Mourning Dove. Learn more about the birds, their range, migration, breeding, and sounds.

California Scrub Jay

Join me in the yard to watch more of our avian friends. This time we’re observing the  California scrub jays that gather around the water dishes (with the occasional squirrel).

California scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica) are members of the crow or Corvidae  family. They are native to western North America, ranging from southern British Columbia, throughout California, west to the Sierra Nevadas, and south to Baja. They are in shades of blue and gray with no head crest, distinguishing them from species like the Steller Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), which sport a head crest.

Scrub jays have moxie. They announce their intention to visit the water dish with lots of loud, brash squawking from a nearby tree or bush. Then, they frequently squawk all the way through their bath. The best defense may be a good offense.

Scrub Jays are loud, but you’ll see that they do share with other birds and critters. Enjoy time with our local wildlife.

 

Enjoying Winter Moss

When the rains come here in the San Francisco Bay Area, our mossy yard comes alive in shades of green. Years ago our lawn of grass became a lawn of moss. For most of the year, the ground covering appears brown and dry. With the winter rains, even a small quantity of moisture restores the green. 

Mosses are nonvascular plants in the Bryophyta family of land plants. They are small, herbaceous, and absorb moisture through leaves and stems. They use photosynthesis to produce nutrients, and reproduce through spores. Many prefer shade and acidic soil. They require moisture to reproduce, but can survive desiccation for months.

Mossy "lawn" after winter rains

I've reported on the moss in our garden over the years (see Winter Moss, Moss, and Mushrooms), especially in years with plenty of rain. I've also enjoyed seeing moss in other gardens such as Butchart Japanese Garden, Seattle Chinese Garden, and Glacier Gardens. I haven't started to identify them yet, but I can see the differences in species that appear on the wood, concrete, and plants on the property.

Mossy path

My one regret with our soil restoration project, is that the moss "lawn" is being covered with a layer of wood chips. I take the long view on this situation, because it will ultimately result in healthier soil, with less compaction and more moisture retention. And I wouldn't be surprised if some moss finds its way to the top of the wood chip layer over time, to make a winter appearance after the rains!

Enjoying Fall at Bishop Ranch

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the change of seasons is subtle. Some plants go dormant. Other plants wait patiently for the winter rains (and go deeper into dormancy in case of drought). Still others flourish with only the mist of the night-time fog that rolls in to the Bay.

By choosing the right plants, fall can produce a vibrant tapestry of color, even here in the Bay Area. Join me as we go into the landscape to experience the beauty and serenity of fall at Bishop Ranch. In this video, we walk the paths of Bishop Lake and enjoy the view.

Fall Leaves

We've enjoyed the seasons in the past, including fall at Bishop Ranch. You'll recognize some of the views, plants, and architecture in The Beast of Lake Bishop and Fall at Bishop Ranch.

Fall Colors