For May, 1923 



California Waysides 



OLIVIA BROOKS 



IA.M going to tell you something about some of the 

 native shrubs 1 have seen while motoring in my 

 "P'ord" through the country surrounding San Diego, 

 for, many and interesting are the different varieties grow- 

 ing in the mountains, valleys, and along the seashore. 

 One always waits with keen anticipation for the coming 

 of Spring in California, knowing that after the rains of 

 January and February, the wild tiowers begin to bloom, 

 as also do many of the shruhs. 



The enthusiastic botanist is thrilled with delight at 

 finding, not only old friends, hut making new ones 

 amongst the great display of beauty and color tliat meets 

 one on all sides from San Diego to the northern part of 

 the State. 



Around San Diego there are three interesting sumachs, 

 all evergreen — the laurel leafed (Rhus laurina). "lemon- 

 and-sugar-tree" (Rhus ovata), and the "mahogany bush" 

 (Rhus integrifolia). These varieties Wong to the same 

 family as our eastern sumach, with pinnate leaves and 

 long cardinal-red fruit clusters, which is so handsome 

 growing- along the roadside if the Fall. 



The laurel leaf sumach (Rhus laurina) is the most com- 

 mon of these three shrubs, growing in great abundance 

 on the lowlands, the foot-hills and well into the mountain 

 regions. It is from six to fifteen feet high, of a wide 

 spreading, bushy growth, with narrow and pointed, dull 

 green foJiage. 



The new leaves, being red, stand out conspicuously, 

 giving the whole shrub a bronze color. The flowers are 

 white, in long clusters, said to be quite pretty, unfor- 

 tunately I have not seen this shrub in bloom, as it blos- 

 soms in Summer. 



The lemon-and-sugar-tree (Rhus ovata), a compact 

 shrub six to eight inches high, is found only on the foot- 

 hills well into the "back country." The handsome, shiny, 

 ovate leaves are leathery in texture with an entire margin, 

 and the rose pink flower clusters are so numerous that 

 one is at once attracted to this shrulb by its unusual 

 amount of color. The berries are coated with a sweet 

 substance which the Indians value as a substitute for 

 sugar. 



The "mahogany bush" (Rhus integrifolia) is a tough 

 rigid growing shrub, which makes splendid compact 

 hedges in gardens along the Pacific, where it takes most 

 kindly to cultivation. Its leaves are dull green, thick, 

 and rather serrated ; the lovely, tiny pink blossoms seem 

 to redeem this stalwart shruh, making it more delicate 

 and pleasing to the eye. The little drupes are covered 

 with an acid, oily substance, and are used by the Indians 

 and Mexicans in making a lemonade-like drink. 



One of the best known shrubs in California is the 

 manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita). I have seen it 

 gro'wing all the way from a w^ell developed small shrub 

 to a typical tree. The flowers which bloom about Christ- 

 mas time, are much like those of the blue-berry, belonging 

 to the same family. 



The manzanita has a great deal of character among the 

 wild shrubs, for its smooth, satiny, red 'bark is most dis- 

 tinctive in contrast to the pale green leaves and tiny pink 

 blossoms that cover the branches. 



The name "manzanita"' is Spanish for "little apple," 

 and well describes the fruit of this bush. 



"Indian Tobacco" (Xicotiana glauca) is the most 

 widely distributed shrub along the roadside, in fact, I 

 don't believe I have seen it growing anywhere else. It 

 has spread rapidly, as residents can remember when there 



were \-cry few of these plants, which originally came from 

 Buenos Aires. The shrub has a loose spreading habit, 

 fifteen feet or more in height, with lovely, waxy flowers, 

 long and tubular in shape, greenish yellow in color, hang- 

 ing in graceful clusters. 



The wild lilac of California (Ceanothus), which has 

 so many varieties, is alw'ays an interesting sight to see, 

 for, at its height of bloomi it forms ananiazing sweep 

 of color from the foot to the top of a hill, filling the air 

 with a delicious fragrance. It is a graceful, evergreen 

 shrub, with small leaves, amongst which appear diminu- 

 tive clusters of tiny, airy blossoms. 



In December the most wonderful shrub seen along 

 the sea-coast and in the foothills, is the California "Holly" 

 or Christmas Berry (Heteromeles arbutifolia). This 

 handsome bush was fast being exterminated by ruthless 

 "wa}-side marauders," but now stands protected by law. 



I have never seen anywhere on any plant, such large 

 and magnificent clusters of red berries, making the whole 

 hillside fairly glow with color! — a sight to be stored away 

 for future thought. The Christmas berry has not the 

 prickly leaves of our eastern holly, but oblong, serrated, 

 leathery foliage. 



The Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum i forms a 

 great part of the Chaparral on the mountain slopes. Its 

 dark green, almost black needle-like foliage, verv feathery 

 in appearance, makes a most eft'ective background for the 

 other wfld plants that grow about. 



One could go on indefinitely describing these wild 

 shrubs, all so distinctive in character, and beauty of fomi, 

 but being familiar with even a few adds interest and 

 friendliness to nnv landscape. 



NEW ENGLAND ASTER 



""PHE New England Aster has become such a favorite 

 that one hesitates to say anything about it. So nuich 

 has been said in praise of this really beautiful species that 

 its admiration has become something of a fad, and one 

 suspects that a few of those who tout it so highly are 

 just a wee bit insincere, writes Frank A. \\'augh in 

 Florists' Exchange. 



Another curious thing about this species is that, al- 

 though it is one of the most striking wild plants of our 

 region, it has secured its extreme popularity in the plant- 

 ing of old-fashioned hardy perennial gardens which are 

 in fact more or less formal. No complaint need be made 

 about the use of the New England Aster in formal or 

 semi-formal .gardens, but we should not lose sight of the 

 fact that it is one of the very best si>ecies for extreme 

 naturalistic effects also. As it occurs in wild masses along 

 streams or the borders of ponds it is magnificent. 



A caution needs to be giveti with respect to the selection, 

 of colors. The species varies quite widely in the color 

 of its flowers, including pink, rose, blue and purple and 

 some of these shades fail to harmonize when placed to- 

 gether. In general it will be found that varieties of clear 

 rose or amethyst blue are the most agreeable to the eye. 



Still another point needs to be noted, viz., the beauty of 

 this Aster in the Winter garden. Of course it is a fact 

 that the beauty of the ^^'inter garden is too much neglected 

 by all of us. Nevertheless it is there and not always over- 

 looked. The good landscape architect, at any rate, en- 

 deavors to make his gardens attractive at all seasons and 

 should not forget the charm of the New England Aster 

 as it appears under a matitle of fluffy snow. 



