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Tour: Lawn to Garden: Cool Comfort Garden

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Close Up of Mulched Garden
Snow-In-Summer
Sonoma Sage, Creeping Sage
New Zealand Flax
Snow-In-Summer

Common name:Snow-In-Summer
Botanical name:Cerastium tomentosum

Masses of snow white flowers highlight this plant during the early summer season.

Sonoma Sage, Creeping Sage

Common name:Sonoma Sage, Creeping Sage
Botanical name:Salvia sonomensis

This low growing, native groundcover has glaucous green leaves with blue-violet flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.

New Zealand Flax

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

Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum' is an evergreen perennial. Big, dramatic plant composed of many swordlike, stiffly vertical leaves (9 ft. long, to 5 in. wide) in a fan pattern. Leaves are purple red. Flowers stems reach high above leaves, bearing clusters of 1-2 in. blossoms in dark red to yellow.

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

Designer: Sherri Osaka

Close Up of Mulched Garden
Image: 4 of 10

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.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.