Common name:Butterfly-Iris, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes iridioides
This clumping evergreen iris bears tall, narrow leaves to 30" tall and white flowers marked purple in the center on stalks to 3' tall. This variety has stiffer, darker foiliage than the bicolor form. It requires sun to part shade with little or no summer watering when established. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Common name:Rainbow Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca amethystima 'Superba'
The rainbow fescue is a hardy fescue with fine blue green foliage that grows 8 in. It has spring flowers that are 12 in. above the foliage . This fescue is a very showy, neat grass for sunny spots during spring and fall. The rainbow fescue is drought tolerant. -Cornflower Farms
Common name:Dusty Miller, Silver Groundsel
Botanical name:Senecio cineraria
The Dusty Miller exhibits growth to 1' or more, with velvet gray leaves that have broad, roundish lobes. Yellow flowers heads appear through the middle of the plant during most months of the year. Head back occasionally to encourage bushiness.
Common name:Gaiety Girl New Zealand Tea Tree
Botanical name:Leptospermum scoparium 'Gaiety Girl'
New Zealand Tea Tree has small, needle-like green leaves with showy, 1/2" rose-like flowers in winter and spring. These shrubs can be thinned to enhance their attractive branch structure and flaking bark. They need very little water once established. 'Gaiety Girl' is a slow grower to 5' tall by 4' wide. It has reddish foliage with double flowers in pink/lilac.
Common name:Japanese Camellia
Botanical name:Camellia japonica
An evergreen shrub or small tree, the Camellia japonica can reach 6-15' depending on the variety. It is intended for growth in part sun to shade, with average to little summer watering when established. They make excellent container plants. -Monterey Bay Nursery
Designer: Michele Clement Garden Design
Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Be sure to fix all leaks promptly no matter how small they may seem.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.