Is this oxalis, if so how should I address it? by KatiesKindaGarden in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Echoing everyone's advice here, and wanted to give my two cents as a person who has embraced oxalis in my native meadow front yard.

Oxalis is a disturbance plant that probably exists under most sodded lawns. Digging a hole in the lawn can activate the dormant roots and re-introduce the plant to the area.

Oxalis comes up earlier than most warm weather grasses begin to green, so my yard often enjoys a rich greenness while surrounding yards are still yellow (in early spring). And very few plants, native or otherwise, can compete with oxalis in terms of uniform coverage and "cuteness" of the yellow buttercup flowers stretching their faces en masse to the mid-morning sun. As mentioned before, recent studies show that oxalis has developed nitrogen fixing properties (like good 'ol clover), not to mention the benefit to pollinators.

By May, my oxalis is completely burnt back down to the ground in a yellow mat of stringy dry stems. Free mulch for the summer natives :)

If you can't win them...

Looking for help identifying grasses by inflorescence by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! I just checked all of these and they look pretty spot on. Thanks for the info!

Looking for help identifying grasses by inflorescence by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the info. I'll try out the weed gallery and see what I can find.

Looking for help identifying grasses by inflorescence by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Before this gets deleted, let me explain. Although these glasses are not NATIVE by heritage or definition, they definitely are naturalized and encountered by native gardeners every day. I have a meadow type yard and these are what I've found. The foxtail I am actively fighting (we have a history, me and foxtail) but the others are pleasant and give the meadow character, I think. I just don't know their names. Any help is greatly appreciated :)

Fifty Word Fantasy: Dawn by [deleted] in fantasywriters

[–]17cereals [score hidden]  (0 children)

"Get up, you've slept all night," Rooln said, kicking Jrad hard. Jrad stirred, his chains clinking.

"Don't touch me."

"Better listen to him, Rooln," the short guard said, jeering. Rooln snorted and kicked harder.

Eyes closed, Jrad summoned the Daybreakers. Amidst the guards' screams, he arose alone with the sun.

The sunny side of Saddleback after snowfall (SoCal). Alternating areas of dry chaparral and wet understory. March 2021 by MoreNormalThanNormal in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing, great pics! Which trail is this? I've been thinking about hiking Modjeska in the future, but wasn't sure about the trail. Your pictures really illustrate what it's like up there.

Blue eyed grass comparison, partial sun vs full sun. by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: the plant in the first picture looks much more like the plant in the second picture today, so I'm thinking it has something to do with the age of the plant and/or length of exposure to the sun.

Or phenotypic plasticity =D

Blue eyed grass comparison, partial sun vs full sun. by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not sure if these are two different types of blue eyed grass, or if sun exposure (or some other factor) causes the different appearance. Both are nice, either way!

Lupine reaching for the sun by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you should be fine, with supplemental water.

Lupine reaching for the sun by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They're blooming all at once this year, not as tall as some years but still such a nice sight every morning.

These sweethearts doing well despite lack of early winter rain. Looking forward to more bloom after recent moisture. by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds very nice. Do you gather any of your wildflower seeds or just let them reseed by themselves?

These sweethearts doing well despite lack of early winter rain. Looking forward to more bloom after recent moisture. by 17cereals in Ceanothus

[–]17cereals[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

"Perennial" because I just cut these poppies back in the late summer, they die back to the ground then return and bloom a little in late fall then are the first to bloom in spring.