The Native Plant Demonstration Gardens along the Tule River Parkway are in transition from spring to summer blooming plants. This week’s featured plant is Common Yarrow. Common Yarrow, (Achillea millefolium), flowers from May through the summer and is a frequent component in butterfly or bee gardens. This plant is extremely easy to grow and looks best with weekly water. The native yarrow has white flowers, a variety of flower colors have been developed and are available commercially. Yarrow flower colors range from white and soft pastels to brilliant shades of yellow, red, orange, and gold. Some cultivars, such as 'Red Velvet', have flowers with contrasting center stamens. Common Yarrow forms a 4-inch-tall dense mat which increases slowly by underground rhizomes. The leaves are soft, finely divided, and fernlike. These plants look best when given afternoon or mid-day shade. Once established, weekly watering during dry seasons will keep the plant looking green and fresh. If yarrow is not given supplemental water, it will use its superpower, go summer deciduous and wait for the winter rains. It easily reseeds and it can be aggressive.
Yarrow can be used as a groundcover or lawn substitute in addition to use in flower borders or patio pots. The flowers are held on 2-foot-tall stems and make beautiful cut flowers either fresh or dry. Fresh leaves and flowers have a mild woody herbal scent and are deer resistant. Yarrows were used by native peoples in a wide variety of medicinal uses. Its deep roots make yarrow an erosion control selection.
The following are just five of the plants which you can see blooming in a quarter mile walk along the Tule River Parkway between Jaye Street and Parkway Drive.
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica)
Narrow Leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)
Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)
Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa)
Common Yarrow and many other California native plants available at Quercus Landscape Design in Springville https://quercuslandscapedesign.com/availability, Luis’ Nursery 139 S Mariposa Ave, Visalia, and Alta Vista Nursery in Three Rivers which is open by appointment 559 799 7438. More information on this plant can be found at calscape.org by searching for the plant by name.
Each of the Native Plant Demonstration Gardens is featured on the website tuleriverparkwayassociation.org
The Tule River Parkway is a City of Porterville public park which features a three-mile paved walking and bicycle path. The gardens were planted and maintained by volunteers with project management by the Tule River Parkway Association. We have three volunteer garden days each month. Follow Tule River Parkway Association on Facebook for announcements. June garden events are on the 11, 16, 18th in the morning. The public is encouraged to explore the gardens to learn more about the featured plants and the project. Pollinator Week event June 25.
For More information contact TRPA at tulerivergardens@gmail.com
Submitted by Cathy Capone
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