Common name:Artichoke
Botanical name:Cynara scolymus

This perennial will grow 4' tall and 6-8' wide. It has silvery green leaves with bluish purple flowers that bloom in spring. Artichoke is a favorite fruit/vegetable of California kitchens but it is a great ornamental plant often overlooked for color contrast. It is very tolerant of little water when planted for ornamental purposes.

Common name:Carolina Laurel Cherry
Botanical name:Prunus caroliniana

This large evergreen shrub or small tree has leaves that are glossy and 2-4" in length. It is excellent as either a formal hedge or an informal screen. It has creamy white flowers in late-winter and spring followed by small black berries. The berries can be messy.

The Magic of Mulch

In the natural world the endless cycle of birth, growth, decay, death and rebirth flows throughout the seasons. Plants die, leaves fall and new growth springs up in its place. Nothing is lost and the fallen leaves and dead plants decay into the soil, enriching it for the next generation of growth.

Click in the green box for more information