Lovely Manzanita

Arctostaphylos, Baby Bear Manzanita Bush,
Photo Credit: Las Pilitas Nursery, Santa Margarita, California

The lovely Manzanita (Arctostaphylos species) with its delicate pink urn-shaped flowers in spring hardly seems like a tough, fire-resistant plant. But in fact this small tree is a survivor. If a wildfire were to come through your garden or the hillsides behind your house, you would be glad Manzanita was planted there.

Manzanita has a deep crimson bark that is very dense, strong and heavy.  In a fire, the wood would be slow to burn, but burn it would. Still, the plant would not burn to the ground; instead, a basal stump would remain for new growth to branch out in the next rains.

Manzanita is a California plant, native to chaparral and soft-scrub ecosystemsm of areas such as the coastal Santa Monica Mtns.  There are many varieties of Manzanita, and they can be found growing wild from San Diego north to Carmel.

Not all Manzanitas are as equal, when it comes to fire resistance. Small bushes, in general, are best. One of the recommended Manzanitas for fire resistance is this one: Arctostaphylos Baby Bear Manzanita Bush. Baby Bear grows to about 6ft tall and 6ft wide. It is drought-tolerant in Coastal California.

Anna's Hummingbird on Arctostaphylos, Baby Bear Manzanita Bush
Photo Credit: Las Pilitas Nursery, Santa Margarita, California

Manzanita is a favorite of pollinators, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and bees with its spring blooms. Plant Manzanita in a bird garden, and let the birds enjoy the fruit.

Manzanita can fit into any size garden. Each plant has its own unique shape, making it a work of art in the garden. Manzanita come in many shapes and sizes, from trees and bushes to groundcovers! They make graceful specimen plants or can be pruned into hedges.

For myself, I love walking through the fog and seeing Manzanita sentinels standing out along the pathways~  May they always grace the coast of California.

You can read more of this Series, starting with: Gardening in the Line of Fire
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Resolutions Become Memories

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, October, 2017
Photo by Kathy Vilim

'Tis the time of year for Resolutions. Actually, by now all resolutions should be in place. I am not one to make resolutions usually, but last year Jan. 2017 I made a big one: I resolved to get back to Chicago to see my aging parents.  I hadn't been back for 10 years! Things get busy and time flies by. But I decided to make this happen! Guess what: my best memories of 2017 took place back on that vacation.

My happiest moment of 2017 and the scene that sticks in my mind is this one: Sitting in the car with my father, together listening to Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe", watching yellow autumn leaves blow across the driveway. Then, it starts to rain. Yellow leaves began sticking to the windshield. It was a heavenly moment with my father and all of my favorite things: Ravel, autumn leaves and rain!

Deciduous Forest of Illinois, Photo by Kathy Vilim

There were other happy moments on my vacation, as well, like looking out of my brother's patio door, and hearing the distinctive pitter patter of... is that rain? Yes! And it was the first rain I'd seen all year living now as I do in drought-stricken Southern California. The rain began softly but steadily and continued for hours, growing louder as time went on, bringing with it the familiar smell that told me I was back home in Illinois.

Then there was a walk through the woods, down a trail through a forest of deciduous trees with their yellow leaves. Ah, I thought, now THIS is familiar, not just visually, but the smell of the forest, the closeness of the trees on either side of the trail. The trail went on, turning this way and that, and I had no way of knowing where it led.  I just followed it, deep in thought, crunching leaves underfoot as I did so, with my father. 

I remember thinking to myself: My father is still with me! Here with me right now. After 10 years I am walking next to him and talking to him.  And it seemed as if it were just yesterday that I'd been with my mom & dad.  It was as if all those years away never existed. I thought I missed my aging parents, but at that moment I realized just how much.  And how much I missed the whole place, my home where I grew up in Illinois, and the prairies with their tall, swaying grass turning brown and golden.

Naperville River Walk, Photo by Kathy Vilim

Just now, I hear seagulls crying out, as if to say, "Don't forget us! You'll hear no more of us back there!" Chiding me. Yes, it's true, I do love to wake up to the sound of seagulls...

Yes, life happens while we are busy making other plans. So, if a visit to your aging parents is in order, I encourage you to make a Resolution to see them. I think you will be glad you did.

Happy New Year's Resolutions!