Jennifer E. Beaver
Columnist
Sprucing up your home? Don’t forget your garden!
1. Color
To jog us out of our collective economic malaise, this year the Pantone Color Institute® has chosen Tangerine Tango as its color of the year. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director.
In other words, Tangerine Tango is a vibrant orange. You can find it in canna lilies, begonias, zinnias, marigolds, ornamental and edible peppers, and tomatoes. But use it sparingly. Colors this bright can highjack a garden. Mix with blue shades to tone down and provide contrast.
2. Vertical gardening
Vertical gardening, the practice of growing plants on walls, trellises, arbors and so on, is a fantastic way to make the most of our southern California patios and decks. Check out Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces by Rebecca Sweet and Susan Morrison and Vertical Gardening: Grow Up, Not Out, for More Vegetables and Flowers in Much Less Space, by Derek Fell. Just remember to make sure your structures are sturdy; vines, flowers and vegetables weigh a lot more than you might think. And keep some space between your support structure and your wall to avoid damage.
3. Drought-tolerant gardening
We continue to discover great plants that perform well without an abundance of water. Un-thirsty varieties are perfect for our Mediterranean climate. Remember, though, that drought tolerant means low water, not no water; most plants need a season or so of average water to develop deep roots. After that, many can withstand longer dry periods. If you live in Long Beach, take advantage of the city’s outstanding offer to pay you to remove your grass and put in low-water plants (lblawntogarden.com). The site features inspiring pictures and lots of links to get you started.
According to The National Garden Bureau, 2012 is the Year of the Herb. Many grow with little effort in our Mediterranean climate, such as rosemary, basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme, mint, chives and many more. Most are sun-lovers, but parsley and mint will take a bit of shade. Squeeze a few herbs into your flower beds or pots— they don’t take up much space and pack a lot of flavor.
Jennifer E. Beaver, a Wrigley resident, is a master gardener and author of Container Gardening for California and Edible Gardening for California.
