Common name: Woolly Yarrow
Botanical name: Achillea tomentosa

Short stems of flat-topped golden flowers accent the deep green, woolly, fern-like leaves of the mat formed by this plant. It is a fine performer in rock gardens and at the front of herbaceous perennial borders. Yarrow propagate easily from rooted stems or division, which should be performed in the early spring or fall. Following bloom, dead head the plant and divide the clumps when it appears crowded.

Common name: Valley Oak
Botanical name: Quercus lobata

The Valley Oak is a large deciduous tree that can quickly reach 20' tall in 5 years, then another 20' tall in the subsequent 5 years. Then this majestic California native slows down in growth, becoming more vase-like in habit, until reaching 60' tall in 20 years. Thus, not a good choice for residential homes. Leaves are deeply lobed and gray green, fuzzy, with underneath a pale green. Leaves turn yellow, then orange, then brown during the fall. Flowers appear in spring but are considered insignificant, followed by acorn fruit. Young trees have a pewter colored trunk, changing to dark gray with fissures and branches that are drooping. This tree does best in areas with a high water table. It attracts squirrels and birds. It does tolerate fires. It can reach 600 years old if roots have access to water table. Also known as: Calif. White Oak, Roble