Garden Day - April 26

Fridge Weeding Natives Deer Fence Grasses SIP Beds Veggies Sunflowers Fertilize Seed Flats Bees House

Fridge Seeds

5 min ▼

House Kids can watch

PUT IN fridge: California Bayberry

How to remove wax: Soak seeds in warm water with a drop of dish soap for 15-30 min. Then rub between your fingers or roll against a fine mesh strainer/window screen. The wax softens and flakes off. Rinse clean, wrap in damp paper towel, zip bag, fridge. 3-7 months cold stratification. Ready Aug-Nov.

TAKE OUT of fridge: 2 seeds (in since November)

5 months stratification is plenty. Plant into seed flats today.

Scotch Broom Pull

45-60 min ▼

Lower Driveway Competition!

Why now: Soil still damp from rain 4 days ago. Roots pull out clean. Every seedling pulled now = one fewer next spring.

Pull seedlings by hand, roots and all

Bag everything (do NOT compost)

Seeds survive composting

Take BEFORE photo

Kids: Who can fill their bucket first? Ripping plants from wet soil is deeply satisfying at ages 4-7.

Native Planting (Front Slope)

45-60 min ▼

Front Yard Each boy owns a plant

Slope Placement Map

Full Sun (top)

Flannel Bush, Globe Gilia

Sun / Part

Purple Needlegrass (stabilizes slope)

Part Sun

Common Madia, 3 Bee Plants + Penstemon (cluster together)

Part/Full Shade

Spice Bush (thrives under oak canopy)

Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron)

Top of slope, south-facing, most exposed spot

Critical: Plant crown 1-2" ABOVE grade. Slope soil away from trunk. Sensitive to crown rot. Once established, STOP all watering. No summer irrigation ever.

Globe Gilia

Upper slope, open spots between existing natives

Direct sow or transplant. Light soil cover only. Great pollinator.

Purple Needlegrass

Upper to mid slope, edges

Space 12-18" apart. Deep roots = erosion control on the slope. Native bunchgrass.

Common Madia

Mid-slope, can handle afternoon oak shade

Tolerates clay. Will self-sow once established.

3 Bee Plants + Penstemon

Mid-slope, cluster all 4 together for pollinator impact

Group planting = stronger pollinator signal. Penstemon's tubular flowers add hummingbirds to the mix. Space 12-18" between plants within the cluster.

Spice Bush

Lower slope, under oak canopy, shadiest area

Tolerates deep shade. Perfect for the spots where nothing else thrives.

All Natives Planting Tips

Dig hole 2x width, same depth as root ball

On slope: create flat shelf/basin on downhill side to catch water

NO fertilizer (natives prefer lean soil)

Mulch 2-3" wood chips, keep 4" from stems/trunks

Water in deeply today, then weekly through first summer

Take BEFORE photo of planting spots

Kids: Each boy picks and "owns" a plant. They dig the hole, place it, water it in. "That's MY flannel bush."

Deer Fence Cages

20-30 min ▼

Front Yard Help hold wire

Do this RIGHT after planting. Deer will eat unprotected plants overnight. Don't skip this.

Grab salvaged fencing from driveway fence demo

Build cage around each new native planting

3-4 ft diameter, 3 ft tall minimum. Stake firmly.

Flannel bush especially needs protection

Invasive Grass Seed Heads

15-20 min ▼

Front Yard Scavenger hunt!

Don't mow. Mowing seeding grasses spreads seeds everywhere. Pull or snap seed heads instead.

Walk through and snap/bag ALL seed heads

This is the 80/20 move. Prevents thousands of seeds from dropping.

Pull whole plants where soil is soft enough

Bag the seed heads (don't drop on ground)

Kids: "Scavenger hunt! Find the fuzzy tops!" Each boy gets a bag to fill.

SIP Bed Top Box Layout

30-40 min ▼

Backyard SIP Beds Own a row!

Context: Beds run east-west. West side = 5-6 hrs sun, east side (tomatoes) = 7-8 hrs. All seeds below are direct sow, no need for flats.

Top Box Planting Plan

3 tomatoes on the east (sunniest) end. New plantings in the west 2/3 (5-6 hrs sun, ideal for cool-season crops).

Top SIP Bed (long axis east-west)

5-6 hrs sun 7-8 hrs sun

Garlic
Chives
6"

Radish
Blk Span
4-6"

Mustard
Dragon
6-12"

Kale 1
12-18"

Kale 2
12-18"

Carrots
Atomic+
Cosmic
thin 2-3"

Kale 3
12-18"

Lettuce
(all)
6-12"

open / succession sow in 2-3 wk

Tomato 1

Tomato 2

Tomato 3

W ← cooler, open planting → | ← sunniest, tomatoes → E

Beans + Snap Peas: NOT in SIP beds. These need vertical support (6-8 ft for Cherokee beans, 4-5 ft for snap peas). Plant along a fence, trellis, or stakes in full sun. Direct sow 1" deep, 3-6" apart.

Seed Spacing Quick Ref (all direct sow)

Seed	Depth	Spacing	Position / Notes
Garlic Chives	1/4"	6"	SW corner. Perennial, stays put.
Radish Blk Spanish	1/2"	4-6"	Front row. 55-day winter radish.
Mustard Dragon's Breath	1/4"	6-12"	Front row. Fastest harvest (21-45 days).
Kale (x3 types)	1/4-1/2"	12-18"	Spread out for airflow. Gets big.
Carrots (Atomic + Cosmic)	1/4"	Thin to 2-3"	Center. SIP wicking = perfect moisture. Keep moist 10-14 days.
Lettuce + Oak Leaf	Surface, press in	6-12"	East side near tomatoes for shade. Don't bury, just press into soil.
Snap Peas	1"	3-4"	Along a fence/trellis (not SIP bed). 4-5 ft support. Likes cool weather.
Cherokee Beans	1"	4-6"	Along a fence/trellis (not SIP bed). Pole bean, 6-8 ft. Purple pods.

Layout Logic

Garlic Chives (far west, least sun)

Perennial. Tucked in the corner so it stays put. Fine with 5-6 hrs sun.

Radish + Mustard (front row, west-center)

Fast crops that harvest before summer heat. Don't need the most sun. Out before tomatoes spread.

Kale x3 (spread across middle)

12-18" spacing for airflow. Handles 5-6 hrs sun fine. Actually prefers not-scorching conditions.

Lettuce (east side, near tomatoes)

Grouped together (lettuce + oak leaf are the same category). Placed closest to tomatoes so they get shade soonest as temps rise. Lettuce bolts in heat, so the 7-8 hr side with tomato shade is ideal.

Carrots (center of bed)

Dead center where SIP wicking is most consistent. Carrots need even moisture for germination. 10-14 days to sprout.

Open back row = succession sowing

In 2-3 weeks, sow more lettuce, radish, or mustard. Keeps the harvest coming.

Veggie Seed Quick Reference

Ref ▼

All direct sow. Every seed on this list goes straight in the ground. No flats needed for veggies.

Seed	Depth	Space	Where / Notes
Kale (x3)	1/4-1/2"	12-18"	SIP bed. Succession sow every 2-3 wk
Lettuce + Oak Leaf	Surface	6-12"	SIP bed east side. Press in, don't bury.
Carrots (Atomic + Cosmic)	1/4"	Thin to 2-3"	SIP bed center. Keep moist 10-14 days
Garlic Chives	1/4"	6"	SIP bed SW corner. Perennial.
Mustard Dragon's Breath	1/4"	6-12"	SIP bed. Fastest! 21-45 day harvest
Radish Black Spanish	1/2"	4-6"	SIP bed. Winter radish, 55 days.
Snap Peas	1"	3-4"	Fence/trellis. 4-5 ft support. Cool weather crop.
Cherokee Beans	1"	4-6"	Fence/trellis. Pole bean, 6-8 ft tall!
Sunflowers	1"	12-18"	Full sun spot. Save some for school.

Snap peas + Cherokee beans (orange rows) need a fence or trellis, not the SIP beds. Plant along any vertical support in full sun. Cherokee Trail of Tears grows 6-8 ft with beautiful purple pods.

Sunflowers

15 min ▼

Backyard (full sun) Each boy picks their spot

Plant a row for the yard (1" deep, 6" apart, thin to 12-18")

Set aside seed packets for school

Hold some back for succession planting in 3-4 weeks

Each boy marks "their" sunflower with a stick/flag

Quick Fertilize

15 min ▼

Backyard Orchard Measure scoops

Cherimoya: 8-8-8 fertilizer (April quarterly)

Sprinkle at drip line, not against trunk

Atemoya: 8-8-8 fertilizer (April quarterly)

Same as cherimoya

Citrus: second feed (all citrus trees)

Due late April. Quick pass.

Kids: "We're feeding the trees their lunch!" Let them measure scoops and sprinkle around the base.

Seed Flats (If Energy)

20-30 min ▼

Shade / Indoors Fill trays, place seeds

Use well-draining native seed mix. Keep moist, not wet.

Carpenteria californica (bush anemone)

Penstemon

Calystegia occidentalis

Chaparral morning glory

White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Slow germinator. Be patient. Can take 2-4 weeks.

White Yarrow

2 stratified seeds from fridge

5 months cold. Ready for flats now.

Bee Hive Status

No inspect today ▼

Forecast updated: Warmer than expected! Highs reaching mid-60s by Tuesday, 71°F Wednesday. Next inspection window could be as early as Tue-Wed April 28-29 if temps hold. Rosie is urgent.

Rosie - QUEENLESS (Critical)

Two egg donations, zero queen cells built. If still nothing at next inspection, combine with Rubina (newspaper method).

Bruin - QUEENLESS

Frame donated from Queen Bae (eggs/larvae/capped) into F5. Watch for queen cells next inspection.

Laser - Laying, ant issue

Monitor ants at F5-F6 entrance. Bees unfazed for now.

Queen Bae - Laying, donor

Donated F6 to Rosie. Replaced with drawn comb. Quick check next time.

Rubina - Strong

F4 full of eggs. Room to grow. Strongest hive. Potential combine target for Rosie.

Household

When ready ▼

Fix oven

Attach starter after heli-coil fix. Clean knobs (slight sticking in off position).

Day Timeline

Full day ▼

Ages 4-7 rule: Rotate every 30-45 min. Short bursts, visible progress, ownership, variety.

Time	Activity	Kids
8:30	Fridge seeds	Watch (gross!)
9:00	Scotch broom pull	Bucket competition
9:45	Snack break
10:00	Native planting	Own a plant
10:45	Deer fence cages	Hold wire
11:05	Grass seed heads	Scavenger hunt
11:20	Sunflowers	Pick their spot
11:45	Lunch
12:45	Veggie sowing (SIP)	Own a row
1:20	Fertilize trees	Measure scoops
1:35	Seed flats	Fill trays
2:00	Done / filler	Free play

Make it stick: Use the cool names. "Dragon's Breath Mustard." "Cherokee Trail of Tears." "Atomic Red Carrot." End of day: walk the property together and see everything you did.

Front Yard Native Planting Map

Based on your drawing. Top of map faces NE (60° from north). Street on left, house on right. Dashed outlines = new plantings for today. Solid = existing plants.

New (full sun)

New (part sun)

New (shade)

Existing

Shade zone

Street

HOUSE

Redwood
(canopy)

C
ceanothus

Red
(~50ft)

FB
flannel bush

Globe
Gilia

Purple
Grass

Common
Madia

Bee
Plant

Penste-
mon

Spice
Bush

Full Sun

Part/Full Shade

Where to Plant and Why

Globe Gilia

Just above/north of Flannel Bush, between FB and upper manzanita

Same full-sun zone as FB. Lower-growing, so it won't shade the flannel bush. Both bloom for pollinators. The manzanita behind provides a backdrop.

Purple Needlegrass (3 clumps)

Scattered in open ground between existing plants. Mid-yard, edges, and below the manzanitas.

Deep roots stabilize the slope. Fills gaps between shrubs without competing. Space 12-18" apart. These are the "connective tissue" of the native garden. Plant where you see bare soil.

Common Madia

Between ceanothus and the lower manzanitas, center of garden

Handles the part-sun transition zone. Tolerates clay. Gets afternoon shade from the manzanitas. Will self-sow and naturalize, filling in gaps over time.

3 Bee Plants + Penstemon (clustered)

Upper-left area, between Pacific Madrones and ceanothus. Cluster all 4 within 4-5 ft of each other. Penstemon just east of the bee plants, bridging toward the ceanothus.

Penstemon's tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and native bees. Paired with the bee plants it creates a dense pollinator hub. The corridor flows: bee plants + penstemon → ceanothus → globe gilia → flannel bush. Different flower shapes = different pollinators served.

Spice Bush

Under the lower redwood canopy (SW corner), the shadiest spot on the property

This is the one plant that actually wants deep shade. The big redwood casts heavy afternoon shade here. Nothing else you're planting today would thrive in this spot, but spice bush will. Aromatic foliage is a bonus.

Pollinator corridor: The placement creates a path of bloom from the street-side bee plants through the ceanothus center to the flannel bush and globe gilia. Your bees from the backyard hives will work this entire corridor.

Slope Planting Tips

▼

Flannel Bush: Crown Rot Risk

Plant crown 1-2" ABOVE grade. Build a small mound. Slope soil AWAY from trunk in all directions. This plant dies from wet crowns. Once established, zero summer water.

All slope plantings

General rules for planting on the slope:

Basin: Create a flat shelf/basin on the DOWNHILL side of each plant to catch water and prevent runoff.

Hole: 2x width, same depth as root ball. Don't amend soil (natives prefer lean).

Mulch: 2-3" wood chips around each plant, keep 4" clear of stems. On slopes, mulch also prevents erosion around new plants.

Water: Deep soak today. Then weekly through first summer. The existing mycorrhizal network from your manzanita/ceanothus/madrone will help new plants establish faster. Minimize soil disturbance to preserve it.

Spacing from existing plants

From manzanita: 3-4 ft minimum. Manzanitas spread wide.
From ceanothus: 4-5 ft. Also spreads.
Flannel bush: Give it 6-8 ft radius. Gets large (6-20 ft wide).
Needlegrass: 12-18" between clumps. Can go closer to shrubs, they coexist well.