“The sea laps at the sand, but the sand also hosts a desert”
The San Diego coastline is graced by miles of land caressed by moist coastal breezes as well as arid Santa Ana winds. The sand, waving palms, fruit trees and flowers always in bloom…echo a paradise found. But as you move through less populated corners of the coast, the true nature of the region shows itself. Left alone, a diverse mix of both parched and lush flora reside together in reckless abandon. The two worlds coexist in a delicate balance.
“There is a threshold that we are reaching in terms of sprawling growth and selfish habitation. Will we become a paradise lost?”
Canyons wind through San Diego county, separating neighborhoods in ways similar to the waterways that reach out to the ocean. Already almost a year past, the wildfires that threatened our homes are still a close memory. Many homes that were threatened found themselves on the front lines due to impractical landscaping as well as developments encroaching on areas previously unoccupied.
When planting our gardens or approving a landscape design, we examine color, height, and sun exposure — and it can feel like that is sufficient homework! Unfortunately, in a paradise where anything can grow, grow it will, and your home might soon be dwarfed by
the beautiful bougainvillea you planted just a few years ago. Some plants make it into area nurseries because they grow well, without consideration for the invasive quality that might demonstrate when unleashed in in our yards and parks.
This fall, as the sun softens and the mornings retain the mists, consider scouting for native plants that will prove to be more hardy and less demanding than their counterparts. Start by keeping an eye on area groups such as the California Native Plant Society, San Diego Chapter, who hold regular meetings and events at the Casa del Prado Courtyard in Balboa Park and other locations in the community. Also explore Point Loma Native Plant Garden and the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas for examples of just how lush and beautiful native landscapes can be!
Next summer you will spend less time and water keeping your yard looking lush, and feel better knowing that you are doing your part to honor this precious little piece of paradise that we call home.
