Heuchera is the generic name for hundreds of varieties of Coral Bells. They generally bloom in the spring to early summer and have pink to white flowers. The many different colors of the foliage is the main reason they are used in the shady garden. Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’ Heuchera ‘Forever Purple’ Heuchera ‘Rose Granita’ Heuchera…

California has the largest number of endemic plants than any other state – plants that are native here and nowhere else. It has the tallest tree in the world, the oldest tree in the world and the most massive tree in the world. TREES: California Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) The tallest tree in the world…

Since my trip to Germany, Austria and Switzerland was canceled this year I decided to visit Oregon and see my brother, his family and gardens and nurseries in the Portland area. Seven Feathers rest area along Highway 5 south of Roseburg, Oregon. Conifer Kingdom Nursery in Silverton, Oregon specializes in dwarf conifers and Japanese Maples….

A place to rest and enjoy the garden. Here are some examples of benches at Dawn Gardens. 4′ teak bench on flagstone pavers. Bench to view the upper pond and waterfall. Rocking bench to view the upper garden. Patio table and chairs. Back patio and view of bowl fountain. Lone garden chair with view of…

Viburnums are a varied genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs with beautiful flowers and blue or red fruit. DECIDUOUS VIBURNUMS Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Mariesii’) Viburnum ‘Summer Snowflake’ Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Molly Schroeder’ European Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus) Viburnum opulus ‘Aureum’ Viburnum dentatum Viburnum lentago Viburnum carlcephalum Viburnum rhytidophylloides ‘Allegheny’ EVERGREEN VIBURNUMS Viburnum davidii…

Commonly called the Sticky Monkey Flower, Mimulus is a common native plant that has been hybridized to produce plants with many different flower colors. Mimulus aurantiacus is a tough plant blooming in the late spring that can survive poor souls and no water all summer in its native habitat. Here are some of the hybrids…

There are many animals that live in Dawn Gardens including my cat, Sweetie; fish; frogs; birds; squirrels; bats; snakes; gophers; moles; voles; snails & slugs; worms and insects. Outside the fence are deer, mountain lions, wild pigs, raccoons, skunks, possums and beavers.  Most of these animals are hard to get pictures of because they are…

Around the year 2006 I took my truck to Oregon to visit my Mother in Portland. While I was there she took me to a Heather nursery and I fell in love with the plants. I decided to bring some Heathers home and plant a Heather garden. I knew the climate in Grass Valley was…

Rocks and boulders add to the naturalism of a garden. From a small rock on the edge of a path to large boulders used for a waterfall they all help make a garden beautiful. Many beautiful lichens and mosses grow on rocks. In the summer you can bring them to life by spraying them with…

The Russian Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is a very valuable plant for the garden because it blooms in the fall. It mixes well with ornamental grasses because it likes full sun and tolerates poor soil and dryness. The flowers are like small daisies in large clusters at the top of a 6′ – 8′ plant so…