Digging Deep with Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian

Over the past three weeks, we have endured a severe storm (bombogenesis) with high winds and extreme precipitation. Significant amounts of atmospheric rivers have caused floods, debris flows, debris flows and power outages. Dry streams filled with rocks raged, trees were uprooted, and many dwellings needed sandbags to protect themselves from heavy rain showers.

I’m grateful for the rain we’ve had, and I wish I had a personal reservoir and an underground cistern to hold the spilled water, as the barrels and buckets are overflowing. Despite the torrent, the drought is not over. We need more rain.

Weeds and seeds are growing everywhere. On my hillside, orange-and-yellow home-seeded calendulas are blooming, and poppies are peaking in the soggy soil. Small seedlings are easy to pull out, so I start weeding every day even in the downpour. Bruce Macler, a regular reader of Digging Deep and an ambassador for the MOFD’s Fire Adapted Community program, advises gardeners on non-native, invasive, flammable, and difficult-to-control species such as Cystisus, Gentista, and Spartum. Writing to me to encourage you to start pulling brooms. Soil is soft. For those large broom plants that are difficult to eradicate, MOFD has special tools available for loan to the public to pull out these unwanted intruders, including the taproot. Contact MOFD to borrow this handy device. Bruce, thank you for working to keep our garden fire safe while it’s still winter.

In my last column, I covered Garden Media Group’s predictions for 2023’s hottest trends, with suggestions such as vertical gardening from 100 to the new 50. (www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1623/Digging-Deep-with-

Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-2023-Garden-Trends-Part-1.html) Gardening at 100 requires a raised garden so you don’t have to stoop and to provide a wheelchair-friendly height. you will need a bed. This year, classic columns, statues, boxwood hedges and iconic Greek gardens will inspire her, especially Gen Z. Stone walls, archways and olive trees are in demand. A timeless arrangement featuring roses, agapanthus, cyclamen and aquatic succulents as the dominant plants in the design. A staple of Greek design is the gravel garden, perfect for spaces large and small that require minimal maintenance during periods of drought.

Arbors have adorned gardens throughout history. They provide shade and add focal point to any landscape design. Greek decor is becoming increasingly popular, but when considering a gazebo, choose one that complements the style of your home and garden. Choose a sturdy material that can withstand the weight of the vine.

Climate change measures are also featured in the trend report. The first arctic map was produced by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1960. The country has warmed by 0.5 zones since the last map update in 2012, indicating that the climate’s heat velocity is increasing by 13 miles per decade. Our global climate is projected to warm another 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century. Planting climate-resilient trees is one of his ways to combat this warming planet. Reforestation creates clouds that cool the climate. Trees sequester and store carbon, conserve energy in shade, reduce stormwater runoff, filter air pollutants, and reduce heat in cities. Planting the right trees in the right places is key to increasing biodiversity and resilient ecosystems. Hiring a gardening coach or arborist for a specific zip code becomes more and more important.

Orange is the designated color of the year. Orange has spiritual connotations that are deeply rooted in history. In Buddhism it is the color of perfection and illumination. In Confucianism, it is the color of transformation. In Hinduism, Krishna’s dress is orange. In Western culture, orange is considered earthy, funny, exciting, and warm. It is also the preferred pigment for prison clothing. Displaying orange or terracotta colored plants will be all the rage at garden centers this year.

You don’t have to implement the suggested trends, but it’s always beneficial to understand what’s going on in the world. You can plan how you want it to look and work. Use native plants, trees, shrubs and flowers to attract wildlife, especially birds, to your property. These provide a consistent food source throughout the year. Hang feeders, birdhouses, fountains, and bird baths to welcome guests to these birds that pollinate and protect your garden.

What’s happening on my property right now? A cascading waterfall, a roaring stream, and the croaking of frogs bring joy to my heart. Seeing birds find refuge in my landscape shows that these feathered friends call my garden home. Newts and salamanders frequent my pond To do. My camellia tree is full of buds and blooming. Pink bergenia brightens the understory of shrubs. The 37-year-old olive tree has large black olives, but there are no plans to harvest them. The hillsides are covered with wildflower buds that scatter in autumn. Sage and Madeira are dazzling companions. The grass is newly grown emerald. Deciduous trees fascinate with architecturally interesting branches. Lemons, limes and tangerines that fall from the trees due to rain are collected daily for use in the kitchen. The ground is saturated and cannot be drained quickly. Retaining walls, gravel paths, and sandbags protect my house from catastrophic floods. Thousands of narcissus flowers permeate the air. Heavy pruning of roses will begin soon.

Indeed, with glorious storms, hope and faith blossom from the cheerful seeds of the old to the budding gardens of this new year’s dawn.

I am grateful. Stay safe and weather the storm.

Happy gardening. Happy glowing. Happy January!