Tools, Plant Lists, techniques, etc.
All photos by Phil Johnson unless otherwise noted.
Seedling of Artemesia c. at tip of knife.
Because these seedlings are so small and do not even germinate until December, they stand no chance of competing against exotic annuals.
The Coastal Sagebrush is typically found in the rock outcrops. Given a chance, by eliminating exotic annual weed competition, it will move into areas of deeper soil.
Artemesia californica seedlings
When we keep the exotic annuals out, California sagebrush happily seeds itself around. These are probably the second crop of Mustards. We hula-hoed the first crop which allowed these to germinate in December.
We prepare future planting areas by mowing the exotic annual weeds in the spring after seeds have been set but before they are viable. We try to do this for 2 years before planting, but sometimes wait only one year. photo by David Ogden
After mowing, we rake up the cut material.
We start our seedlings usually by mid August. This photo of Poppies, Stipa and Yarrow was taken on August 25.
In order to get a mixed planting in the field, we decant several varieties into trays for transplanting.
One Brassica nigra seedling about to smother dozens of seedlings of Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora).
This field has been planted after being flamed with propane in 2016
photo by Brad Heckman
Kill them all and let God sort it out.
Following the 'Siege of Béziers Rule', a large swath of Brassica (Mustard) mixed with Poppies and native grasses was mown to the ground. We'll start again next year. Actually,most of the Poppies and grasses and other perennials will survive the mowing.
This is the Flora that we use for Shell Ridge Open Space
First published in 1944, a second edition was published in 2002.
