Featured Garden: Rancho Costa Mucho
A Backyard Bounty in California
Located in San Pablo, California, Rancho Costa Mucho features a vibrant vegetable garden and a lively chicken population! On their glog, the gardeners Maribel & Les share frequent updates about activities and sights around the garden.
How did you become a gardener?
When I was four or five years old, I saw my grandmother take a couple rose cuttings and sink the ends into the ground. They grew and bloomed – and I was hooked!
What is your favorite plant?
My favorite is the Night Blooming Cerius (Epiphylum). It only lasts one night, but the bloom and its fragrance are a treat. The entire room is filled with a wonderful fragrance. Mine usually blooms in December and again in July.
What's a favorite feature of your garden?
Our vegetable garden is our favorite in Summer. Its wonderful to watch the plants and fruit develop. Eating our harvest is the best part. We can and freeze the surplus to enjoy in winter.
What's your greatest challenge in gardening?
My greatest challenge is growing organic while keeping up with garden pests, such as weeds, insects, bugs, snails, slugs, gophers – and my chickens!
What's your best tip for new gardeners?
Try to find plant varieties that grow well in your area. I look around to see what is growing well when I am out and about in my area.
Then I try to find the name and locate a nursery that carries it. I also get a good idea of full size and shape, companion plants, sun or shade etc.
Lastly, always choose and buy healthy, robust looking plants – and add compost to your soil!
- Categories // : Featured Gardens, January 2011
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