Hitched a ride with a friend last week to a plant sale at the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. I trust the plants they sell will be “true to form” and live up to the size, use, water, care, and feeding regime stated on the plant labels.  

 

I managed to stay focused as I perused their healthy selection of plants. This time I put together a selection of plants to replace a small bed at the entrance to my back garden. The bed is bordered on both sides by narrow concrete paths used as walkways to haul out our trash bins. I carefully gathered plants that should not venture outside the bed boundary as they mature.

 

I have high hopes for a Lavendula allardii ‘Meerlo' PP25559 according to the label provided by the Sunset Western Garden Collection. This lavender is a compact  24-36” high by 24-30” wide liking full sun to part shade useful in borders and containers. The leaves are variegated and fragrant with deep violet-blue flowers in late spring. It also attracts butterflies and has little need for fertilizer. It will be drought-tolerant once established. It is also deer-resistant.

 

Also chosen were a couple of variegated sage, an ornamental grass, Festuca idahoeensis ‘Clearwater Blue', and a California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ‘Bowman's #1'. All drought-tolerant with complimentary coloring. 

 

With this plant grouping I really spent time selecting plants that will fit this space at maturity, it was so tempting to choose a number of dazzlers at this plant sale, but for once I stated on point.