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| Happy Friday! There is a bunch going on around here at the Habitat Corridor Project. A brief update:Our Sebastopol Corridor Project is thriving – these sites only get bi-weekly water at the most – and the plants are doing well. We need to be able to see the seasons in the garden and some brown is OK! California native plants have deep roots that are adapted to drought cycles helping them survive. HabitatCorridorProject.org The Recology Pollinator Garden at 3400 Standish Ave in Santa Rosa is prepped for Fall planting and the BEAUTIFUL mural by Artstart is up — you must go visit. We planted a small test area of California natives that are surviving on low water use drip irrigation sprays for now – the big planting will come when the rains come.The Resilient Landscapes Coalition, of which we are founding members with the Sonoma County UC Master Gardeners and the Sonoma Ecology Center, was funded for the year by the Supervisor’s Vegetation Management Grant. Super, super exciting! SonomaResiliantLandscapes.comI must admit – I am feeling very worried about climate change, drought and the already active fire season. I’m afraid everyone will stop watering their trees – please water your trees. One of the most important messages the Resilient Landscapes Coalition (Mimi Enright, Ellie Insley and I) have uncovered is that the first 5′ from your home and vigilant maintenance this time of year the best way to protect your home with your landscape. Start clearing leaves – just keep 2″. Save your water todampen them on red flag days with cisterns or other vessels. Get rid of all of the foundation plantings around your home depending on where you live. This is a tough one but of utmost importance if you live in the Wildlife Urban Interface. In our designs we certainly try to get creative in the 0-5′ zone. Use dry creek elements, pretty pebble, boulders, fountains, containers with succulents, compost, and other non combustible materials to make this area look great and provide protection from embers. And my personal mission for aesthetics and resilience – please do not use Gorilla Hair or dyed mulches. Stick to a good compost with a lot of wood mulch incorporated in it or simple Arbor Mulch.    Stay safe out there – let me know your thoughts on this email please. With Love, April April Owens Proud Executive Director, the Habitat Corridor Project [email protected] HabitatCorridorProject.org |
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