More tips on holiday plantings

“Holidays are an intensification of the conditions of ordinary life... well above average levels of stress, pressure, concentration and monotony.”

Jean Baudrillard

“Attention shoppers: There are only 44 days ‘til Christmas.”

-- anonymous

Now that election day is safely behind us, we should be able to stroll merrily through Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, and the New Year. Yeah, right. Keep dreaming of (not inhaling) that white stuff.... Decking our doorway with boughs of holly and shopping for gay apparel (that hide in my closet) actually creates stress and pressure rather than festivity at our home.

Continuing last week’s mission of a beautiful garden for the upcoming holidays, one must really commit to spending time in the garden now (or retain a hired hand). Many annuals and perennials possess blossoms that are showy through the New Year. But to enjoy them, you must get them growing!

Camellias are particularly lovely during the fall and winter and will continue to bloom for months. Try planting C. sasanqua varieties, in addition to the more familiar C. japonicas. Mulch their beds with azalea mix, peat moss or leaf mold to keep them happy and productive.

Delphinium, English primrose, foxglove, Iceland poppy, pansy and stock top the Plant Man’s flower list for fall and winter. Prolific bloomers, they prefer full sunlight but require very little else but admiration.

Prized for its fragrance, lavender, Lavandula heterophylla, brings a showy display of purple flowers throughout the year. It thrives in well-draining soil and will grow either in full sun or partial shade. Lavender can be trimmed as an attractive border plant or allowed to sprawl in rock gardens.

If you want berries for the Christmas bough, plant Wilson holly, Ilex altaclarensis wilsonii, rather than the better known Christmas holly, Ilex aquifolium. This hybrid is the best holly for Laguna and is a heavy producer of bright red berries -- perfect as a patio tree, espalier, shrub or hedge.

The smaller varieties of poinsettias are the ultimate symbol of Christmas in the garden (far superior to those plastic Santas). Available in standard red, pale pink, yellow and multicolored varieties, they will be making their appearance at a retail venue near you soon. Ensure good drainage through a properly prepared planting bed and avoid overhead watering for best results.

Catharine and I were thrilled over spectacular news: The House of Representatives has postponed plans to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Our travels through this pristine region convinced me that it must be forever protected and preserved. I mused about the awesome vista of snowcapped peaks, and it sort of reminded me of ... (I can’t bring myself to say it yet). See you next time.

* Steve Kawaratani is married to a local writer, Catharine Cooper, and has three cats. He can be reached at 497-2438 or plantman2@mac.com.

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