JULY 25, 2008
NOW GROWING: Echinacea
The early mornings of July were thick with smoke, and as the sun rose, it was outlined in a deeper hue of orange. The unusual glow from the haze made it seem more like an evening than morning.

In the garden, the Echinacea purpurea mimicked the intensity of the flames that were spreading throughout the California landscape. This tough perennial blooms during the hot summer season, glowing from the center core with burnt umber stamens.
FULL STORY (CC TIMES / PDF)

OTHER ARTICLES OF THE SERIES

• More to Stachys than just lamb's ear (Jun 27, 2008)

• Red-flowered buckwheat (Jun 14, 2008)

• Penstemons love the dry heat of summer(May 31, 2008)

• Ninebark displays its beauty in all seasons (May 17, 2008)

• Carpenteria californica (May 03, 2008)

• Coral bells bloom happily (April 18, 2008)

• Aquilegia formosa (April 04, 2008)

• Forsythia brightens the garden with spring yellow (March 21, 2008)

• Star Magnolia shines brightly in spring garden (March 07, 2008)

• Bulbinella plants love winter rain (February 23, 2008)

• Silk-tassel puts on a winter display (February 8, 2008)

• Happy Wanderer lopes into winter (January25, 2008)

• Marigolds brighten gardens, help other plants (January11, 2008)

• Berberis aquifolium arrives early (December 28, 2007)

• Beautiful winter garden exposes the bones (December 15, 2007)

• Hummingbirds tuned in to Ribes (December 1, 2007)

• Get ready for spring break (November 17, 2007)

• Toyon splashes winter gray with red (November 2, 2007)

(ARCHIVED articles)

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Every other week, Patrice Hanlon, Garden Manager at Walnut Creek's Gardens at Heather Farm, writes about plants that grow well in the fertile Bay Area, giving the botanical history and cultivation requirements so you can decide for yourself whether this would be a welcome addition to your garden.