Garden Delights - Planting at the Petaluma Library - March 2018
You’re invited! Join us to get your hands in the soil and learn about native, edible, and pollinator-friendly plant choices. Daily Acts, with support from the City of Petaluma, will be planting the new Living, Learning Landscape at the Petaluma Regional Library on March 24th and we need volunteers!
Over 100 volunteers sheet mulched the lawn last fall and installed rain gardens. The paths are in and the redwood benches and sculpture will be going in soon. Now it’s time to bring the garden to life with plants!
Imagine kids reading under the shade of luscious fruit trees and enjoying classes on Native History and Ethnobotany while birds, bees and butterflies flutter everywhere. All that while saving over 100,000 gallons of potable water per year and capturing thousands of gallons of rainwater before it becomes polluted stormwater. Can you lend a hand to help make this vision a reality?
If so, please sign up in advance at www.dailyacts.org so we can contact folks in the event of rain postponement. Delicious lunch and refreshments provided!
When: Saturday, March 24th | 10:00am - 3:00pm
Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr, Petaluma
Rain Date: March 31st, same time (for heavy rain only...rain postponement will be announced via email to people who sign up in advance)
A few of our favorite plants installed at this garden are highlighted below:
Indian Freestone Peach (Prunus persica) This little fruit tree is a secret summer delight with a rich history. It’s a secret because the fruit looks a little like your dog’s dirty tennis ball, but the flesh inside is spectacular! They were first brought from the Old World to Mexico in the 1500’s. Because they will grow true to seed (rather than only by grafting), the pits were traded north and ended up being planted all over by native people. When European settlers came to the new US, they were surprised to find this familiar fruit growing. Super tasty and aromatic when fully ripe. They are highly Peach Leaf Curl resistant and put on a beautiful, buzzing flower show in the spring. Needs another peach or nectarine as a pollinizer. You can also see and taste a mature one at the Sebastopol Library.
Goumi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) A what? A Gooomy? Yes correct! This 4-6’ shrub gets covered in tiny little red fruit, that are super high in antioxidants. Its leaves and fruits both have little golden textured bumps all over, and it is overall an attractive upright plant. It is also a nitrogen fixer, so it helps your soil and other plants thrive.
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) I love this Salvia because it is a low-growing, creeping groundcover that can take sun or dry shade. As the name implies, it is also a hummingbird magnet! Smells nice and is relatively gopher and pest resistant.
Hope to see you at the Library to learn more about these and other magnificently multi-functional plants!
