Sacramento Bee Article and Hummingbirds

On Monday Gina Kim, with the Sacramento Bee, wrote an article on hedgerows that featured Hedgerow Farms.  See the link below to read it:

Sacramento Bee article on hedgerows

She did a fantastic job of explaining how hedgerows can enhance farm land and create strips of habitat for a wide range of animals and insects. 

The birds around the farm are one of the few assurances that it is spring. We have been watching some hummingbirds that have nested on site. Recently one moved out and left the second one in the nest.  He has stuck around despite all the rain we have been getting. 

Two Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) chicks in their nest 

There has also been a very territorial Rufous Hummingbird in the same area.

A Rufous Hummingbird (Selaphorus rufus)

Nursery update!

Now is a great time to plug plant. Our nursery is beautiful and and we have many grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs in stock. Give us a call for more information, and take a look at the selection of plugs available: (scroll down for photos of each species) 

Phacelia californica (California phacelia) -- early season bloom

Clarkia unguiculata (elegant clarkia) -- mid season bloom

Euthamia occidentalis (goldenrod) -- late season bloom

Monardella villosa (coyotemint) -- mid/late season bloom

Carex pansa (Pacific dune sedge) -- sedge

Grindelia camporum (gum plant) -- late season bloom

Aster chilensis (California aster, new name: Symphyotrichum chilense) -- late season bloom

Lupinus formosus (summer lupine) -- all summer bloom

Clarkia concinna (red ribbons) -- mid season bloom

Frankenia salina (alkali heath) -- late season bloom

Lupinus albifrons (silver bush lupine) -- early/mid season bloom

Leymus triticoides (creeping wildrye) -- rhizomatous grass

To see more photos of each species and get more information, click on each scientific name.

Our nursery at the beginning of March. So many shades of green!

Phacelia californica (California phacelia)  plugs available now. This drought tolerant perennial forb is great for attracting pollinators! It has scorpioid cymes of light purple flowers that bloom in spring. 

Phacelia california plug. 

Phacelia californica's inflorescences (called specifically scorpioid cymes) unroll
as the flowers bloom.

Clarkia unguiculata (elegant clarkia) is an endemic annual forb with bright pink showy flowers.

Many native bees and honeybees forage on this species' flowers. 

Clarkia pictures taken in June.

Clarkia habitat, with Melica grass flowering in the foreground.

Euthamia occidentalis (goldenrod) is a long lived perennial species that flowers in late summer. This species provides nectar and pollen for native bees and wasps. Its rhizomes provide excellent bank stabilization and weed control. 

Euthamia occidentalis plug.

Close-up of Euthamia flowers.

Monardella villosa (coyotemint) is a perennial forb that has showy
lavender flowers and attracts many pollinators. This species is very drought tolerant.

Monardella flowers in late summer.

Monardella plant in bloom.

Carex pansa (Pacific dune sedge) is great for lawn replacements. We are going to install a demo lawn in the Hedgerow Farms yard this month! C. pansa lawns require very little water to remain green all summer (2-3 deep waterings) and can be mowed or left to grow naturally. 

Carex pansa plugs.

Grindelia camporum plug plant posing on a branch of the willow tree in our nursery!

Grindelia camporum (gum plant) is an endemic perennial forb that
provides summer habitat for insects including pollinators. (This picture was taken in summer.) 

Aster chilensis (California aster) blooms in midsummer.

Aster chilensis flowers. 

Example of an Aster chilensis plant.

Lupinus formosus is a perennial lupine species. This lupine blooms all summer long.
Our seed is harvested by hand as it ripens. The flowers continually attract bees. 

Lupinus formosus blooming in summer.

Leymus triticoides (creeping wildrye) is a native rhizomatous grass. This species grows well in riparian areas and in canal and moist ditch plantings. It is slow to germinate but is very competitive once established.

We also have... (pictures coming soon)...

Clarkia concinna (red ribbons)

Frankenia salina (alkali heath)

Lupinus albifrons (silver bush lupine)