Our Fungi Friends…

Mushrooms are the fruiting part of a fungus; much like the apple is the fruit of a tree (fungus is singular, fungi plural). Most of their lives are spent underground as mycelium (strands of cells that can go for miles!); but when they do show their faces they are beautiful, if not a bit odd, to behold.

The vital role fungi play in our natural world is still underrated today. We, at Gaia Creations, believe fungi hold answers to many questions humans have regarding restoration ecology, agroforestry, biomimicry, even medicine. Check out Paul Stamets as he explains the 6 ways mushrooms can save the world on YouTube.

For the rest of this year we are going to feature one Fungus of the Month each month to show the diversity of mushrooms in our neck of the woods. We also want to point out their value to living organisms around the globe (and we mean ALL of them!) and hopefully learn a bunch more ourselves in the process! Visit our website for more Gaia Creations.

Enjoy!

WINTER IS COMING!

#1 Build a rain garden!!! We can help you design a simple and affordable rain garden to help reduce your irrigation needs and create a beautiful new addition to your landscape.

#2 As Nature's rhythm continues to slow down into Winter the soil should be blanketed in a thick mulch of organic materials; this feeds and protects the plants and microorganisms until Spring.

#3 Broadcast California native wildflower seeds into bare & unsightly areas then cover with topsoil, leaves or light mulch... viola! Fewer weeds and more flowers come spring! Try sheet mulching with heavy weeds then broadcast your seeds.

#4 Turn off your irrigation system with consistent rain! Call us to install in a rain sensor so the work is done for you!

ROSEBUD SAGE

 Salvia involucrata

This beauty is native to Mexico growing in shady places such as the edge of forests.  Salvia involucrata is a great tall accent plant growing more than 8 feet tall.  

Hummingbirds and butterflies love this late blooming Salvia.  Autumn through Winter (in warm climates) this abundant nectar is adored. 

While tender to frosts dipping past 20 degrees the plant will survive colder spells.  Make sure to mulch well and cut back the top in the spring!

Beneficial Insects: Spiders

Two banded spiders with two totally different lifestyles...

Pictured above is the large banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. This type of spider is an ORB weaver, spinning their webs into circles commonly seen in gardens.

Below is pictured the hunting white-banded crab spider, Misumenoides formosipes. A predator with no web spinning abilities it attacks its prey, hopefully a garden pest!

While they both look kind of strange and creepy neither one of them is dangerous; to humans that is...