Annie's Awesome Newsletter Archive

Bloomiferous California Natives

We've been touting the value and importance of planting natives for quite some time here at Annie's. So we were more than happy to partner with the California Native Plant Society's Bloom! California initiative – a statewide effort to educate and encourage Californians to plant more natives. Native plants are inherently climate conscious and, water-wise; and they provide invaluable habitat and food sources for native pollinators and wildlife. Oh, and did we mention they are beautiful and bloomiferous too! Bloom! California is focused on 11 plant groups including some of our favorites -- Clarkia, Salvia, Phacelia, Ornamental Grasses and Yarrow -- but at Annie's we grow over 150 native varieties and currently have over 50 in stock. Check out these California beauties.

Shrub Love

Here at Annie's we LOVE SHRUBS for their beauty, longevity and overall usefulness in the garden. And, just like shoes, there's a shrub for every occasion – which in garden-speak means microclimate, soil type, size, color palette and style. Shrubs are a key component of every garden ensemble. They provide shade, improve soil stability, attract pollinators, enhance air quality and offer habitats for wildlife. Heck, well established and maintained shrubs can even boost your property value (ask a realtor if you don't believe us).

Keep hummers humming by growing their favorite plants!

And enjoy 20% off our featured hummingbird favorites all weekend.

How can you not love the hummingbird? Small, fierce, jewel-encrusted, aerodynamic marvels of nature that only those of us who live in the Americas get to enjoy in our gardens. Epic battles are waged here over hummingbird territories, and every year the staff discovers at least a couple of tiny hidden nests.

We've got you - and the ground - fully covered

Oh, how glorious groundcovers can be. For every focal point plant, architectural specimen, standout shrub or showy bloomer, there's a hard-working "supporting actor," playing its part at their feet. Groundcovers are hardworking with few complaints, and on occasion, they've been known to steal the show. We use groundcovers extensively in our demo beds to smooth over patchy spots, cover up knobby ankles and spectacularly spill over the edge of rock walls and containers. You don't know how much you need them, until you plant them and see how beautifully they tie the garden together!

Help Restore Nature with Noteworthy CA Natives

Our love for California native plants is virtually immeasurable. Did you know that more varieties dwell in our home state than in ALL OTHER STATES COMBINED and there are over 2000 species that grow here and nowhere else! Natives enrich our local ecology by providing sustenance to local wildlife and pollinators, most reseed in the garden for successive generations of FREE plants. They thrive with very little assistance and deal with drought and disease with aplomb. After all, they have been here much longer than we have. Making space for natives in your own garden helps preserve our California heritage and the environment for the future. And, with such a bounty of choices, it makes for some fine gardening, too!

BEE-UTIFUL & BEE-LOVED POLLINATOR POWERHOUSE PLANTS

Lot's of people can't always distinguish a bumblebee from a honeybee, much less recognize many of our lesser known native bees that are often tiny and literally buzz under the radar. But trust us, they're all there and hungry for that delicious pollen that both annuals and perennials provide. Help the bees and all their friends the butterflies and birds by planting these POLLINATOR POWERHOUSE PLANTS. Different bees have different plant preferences, so PLANT LOTS of VARIETY – it's the spice of life for them too!

Heat Tolerant Hotties that won't fizzle when temperatures sizzle!

What's a responsible gardener to do when August days sizzle, plants get parched, and water is not to be wasted? Funny you ask since we have a nursery chock FULL of plants that can take the heat and ask for little (water) in return! Adapting well to both coastal and inland gardens, we love these low maintenance superstars not only for their water-sipping ways, but their looong bloom times, longevity and reliability (they won't just up and die on you) and – of course – beautiful foliage and flowers!

Great Gardens Get the Blues

We're happy to "GET THE BLUES" around here, cuz when it comes to color in the garden, BLUE is BRILLIANT. True blue bloomers come in all shapes and sizes and there's nothing better to compliment your color wheel of yellows, oranges and pinks, than blue! Here are our favorite "BFFs" – Blue Flower Friends - they'll soon be yours too.

Striking and Statuesque!

Looking to add more fabulousness to your life? Want to have a "super model" garden?! Go vertical with these tall, luscious, preening beauties. No matter how big or small your garden, there's always room to reach for the sky!!!

DON'T THROW SHADE ON SHADE!

If you had to make a list of Things Gardener's Dread, somewhere in the midst of rampant deer, killer clay and marauding gophers lies the silent but deadly SHADE. Some of us sun-loving gardeners see shade as a bane, but really, it can be an opportunity. Here are some of our favorite, tried and true shady characters.