I Need advice about two things....

My name is Lena. I am brand new to Dave's Garden, but I can see by what everyone writes that it is a garden filled with people of good heart. I live in Northern California 150 miles south of the Oregon border where we have wet mild winters (usually), an occasional freeze, but extremely hot/dry summers (100-112). What grows best in those extremes? My dog Maizie and I are new to the area. I would like to start a "growing" related business to support myself, however, our soil here is very ancient volcanic soil, lots of rocks with clay (little drainage) so probably greenhouse growing will be the ticket. I have 4 acres, a small pond, small orchard & raised gardens started so far. I would welcome all ideas no matter how far fetched they might seem! What a wonderful place DG is! -Lena & Maizie

Welcome, Lena & Maizie! Have you seen the xeriscaping forum? It might not help much with the wet winters, but the hot and dry summers are something it deals with: http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/xeriscaping/

No. I have not. I have no idea what it is. Could you enlighten me? I am up for anything! I have attached a copy of the boyfriend I left in Alaska that had no interest in growing things! He just wanted to eat things! I met him in a chocolate factory there. Now it is just Maizie and me! ha ha

Welcome, Lena & Maizie from pakistan.

gidgrower- we have the same boyfreind at the chocolate factory in Long Beach. Maybe you should come find him in a better growing area? : )

Welcome from MS - Enjoy

gidgrower - welcome from new york. with those temperatures i wouldn't even go outside. lol. its a great place and i'm sure there are people here who can offer you advice..

Welcome! Hey Daisy...forget the boyfriend...WHERE is this chocolate factory?? LOL Jo

On 2nd Street in Belmont Shores part of Long Beach!! Can't miss it- the bear is sitting right out front waiting for you!

Welcome to DG. Take a look at www.highcountrygardens.com for plants that love it hot and dry. They have a beautiful catalog they will send you that tells which of their plants would not be suited for wet winters. Drive or walk around your neighborhood to see what others are growing and how they do it, ask lots of questions, take lots of notes. Gardeners are a friendly bunch.

Thank you everyone for your warm and interesting replies to my "Help it's hot here-what do I grow" e-mail! What a wondeful site to find kindred spirits from all over the world, even Pakistan! I have just returned back to this area after living and working overseas starting in 1980 in Alaska, then in the Far and Middle East. It was a very interesting lifestyle and career for someone that is just a "Minnie Mouse" country-girl. I have some great photos of teaching in Japan and Kuwait that I will post from home. (I'm stealing a little time at work). I work in a law office now - but soon, hopefully, I will become fully employed at home in the garden or related area. Thank you again for your warm welcome. My passion for growing is varied and includes trees, flowering plants and bushes and so much more. I look forward to learning a lot more about each member that replied. Thank you for your warm welcome! Lena & Maizie

Daisyavenue: Hmmm. That boyfriend from Alaska really got around. Hanging around the outside of Chocolate Factories. That's a whole new pickup sensation! More men should get on that bandwagon! LOL Come to think of it, he did have the build of a guy that had been to a whole lot of chocolate places!

And he is smeared with dirty handprints on his chocky chunky belly last I saw him!! He is good with kids, I guess.

Welcome to Daves, Lena. I wish I could help you with the question about what you could grow in the temp extremes, but living in Iowa, our summer don't usually get hot and stay hot. Two days ago we had a heat index of 109 and today it is in the low seventies. Anyway, I wanted to stop by and say HI. I'm sure you will find the info you are looking for in DG someplace. There are tons of helpful people here.

Welcome to Dave's Garden. I love this site , and I hope you will too. I hope to chat with you soon in the other forums.
Take care .
Patti Aka Rose318

Welcome from Oklahoma!!!

Welcome from North Central WA. My climate is similar to yours but colder probably in winter. Zone 5 and sometimes 6. I push the zone and also the season. I must soon go and plant fall crop seeds, lettuce, etc. It finally cooled off after a couple hours of rain yesterday and the day before. it was so nice not to have to irrigate. I spend all my time irrigating, especially since we go no rain in July. Donna

Hi Donna,

Wow. Irrigation is my middle name here in the summer. It is in the 100's a lot of the time and our soil doesn't seem to hold moisture very well. I am either irrigating or dragging a hose or sprinkler most of my free time. But I love seeing things lush green so it is a small price to pay. Thanks for your welcome everyone. The photo is of me and my dog Maya in Alaska just before I moved to Northern California. Way different than the summer heat here!
Lena & Maizie

Here in NC I fight mostly clay, wind, heat, and humidity. We have our share of droughts also. Anyway, I would suggest some grasses - Miscanthus, Fountain Grass, and I use these for annuals - Rudbeckia Indian Summer. Although I know some consider grasses invasive - I have not had that experience (so far!) I almost never water them unless it's been dry for an extended length of time. The Rudbeckia returns for me although 2 year old plants don't seem to do as well as the new ones I grew from seed. They are also VERY easy to grow from seed! Echinacea does well in hot clay also. We have had our fair share of extended periods of rain (last summer was bad) and all survived that as well! Your local extension office should also have some good ideas! Good luck!

This message was edited Aug 8, 2004 2:51 PM

ncgardenaddict: Thank you so much. Great ideas and I will try them soon. I just visited a new friend's farm this weekend and it has taken her 5 years of hauling horse manure, etc. to augment her soil on her 4 acre mini-farm. She overcame the bad soil by this method and growing grass or cover crops over the new "soil". So guess what I'll be doing. The soil is mostly clay, rocks and some old volcanic eruption erosion stuff. The water either sits on top or goes through the first layer and sits around the roots of my orchard trees, etc. Geez! Thanks so much for your help!