South Coast Blue grows 8'-10' high and 5' wide so it is an excellent choice for that narrow spot in the yard that needs an eye-catching shrub. It has plentiful intense blue flowers and deep green foliage. The foliage is one of the best parts about this plant and really sets this plant apart, although the flowers are excellent too. We have found it to be fast growing. South Coast Blue Lilac is very versatile and manageable and we have enjoyed training it on an espalier and pruning some as standards. It was introduced to us by Greg Rubin of California's Own Native Plant Design, and is a hybrid between Trewithen Blue (a type of Ceanothus arboreus) and Ceanothus Frosty Blue.

Sunset Cliffs Demonstration Garden
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a 68-acre City of San Diego regional park which extends 1½ miles along the Point Loma peninsula's western shoreline. This unique coastal environment features expansive ocean views, dramatic cliff formations and caves, a fascinating intertidal area, and native coastal sage scrub habitat which provide connectivity to the adjacent Point Loma Ecological Reserve.
 

A medium size manzanita that is tolerant of most garden conditions and also tolerant of clay. John Dourley is much loved for its early, profuse flowers and reddish bronze colored new growth. Older leaves are muted green.  John Dourley' Manzanita is a low, mounding shrub with grey green leaves and pink flowers, reddish new growth and blush-colored berries. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide, this plant requires full sun or partial shade and water once a month after establishment.  Attractive year-round, it makes a great understory for mature trees or a  foundation plant for large planters, parkways, banks or hillsides.  Manzanitas provide nectar for hummingbirds, berries for songbirds and wonderful habitat for other native critters. This manzanita was named for John Dourley, the horticulture director at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in the 70's.

Hybrid, random; origin = volunteer seedling (19  ) near hybrid manzanita area, RSABG, selected by John Dourley (1978); intro Tree of Life Nursery 1990

The San Diego Natural History Museum is one of of the best resources around for learning about local habitat. Their web page on butterflies includes a Field Guide of San Diego specific species. There are still many locations where butterfly populations can be seen. For instance, Monarchs can be found over wintering locally in Encinitas (Monarch Butterfly House ),La Jolla (UCSD) and in Long Beach (El Dorado Nature Center)

SDNHM offers the following tips on establishing your own butterfly garden:

Provide Host and Nectar plants (we can help with that!)
Account for the seasons by providing a variety of plant material.
Go easy on pesticides. The ideal garden is pesticide free.
Go native. Many butterfly species require native plants.
Use the sunniest part of your garden to keep them warm.
Use rocks for warmth and perching
Butterfly gardens provide beauty, activity and authenticity.  If you would like some help with plant selection, please give us a call.