Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (Threadleaf Coreopsis) is a compact perennial forming a gorgeous mound of finely divided leaves. Blooming continuously from early to late summer, it gets covered with a profusion of 1 in. wide (2.5cm), buttery yellow blossoms. The airy clumps of fine, threadlike foliage on upright stems add a lovely delicate texture element to the landscape. Long-lived, this Tickseed is perfect for beds, borders, and containers.

• Winner of the 1992 Perennial Plant of the Year Award.
• Grows up to 18-24 in. tall and wide (45-60 cm)
• Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade (specifically in hot summer areas) and enjoys dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Thrives in poor, sandy, or rocky soils and is drought tolerant. This plant will tend to sprawl if grown in moist and fertile soils.
• Easy to grow, relatively pest and disease free, this Coreopsis is a favorite of bees and butterflies but is ignored by deer.
• Very versatile, it is a welcomed addition to borders, naturalized areas, and cottage gardens and does great in containers. Effective as an accent plant and spectacular in mass plantings.
• Deadheading of spent flowers will promote new blooms, although this can be tedious. Midsummer shearing (after the first flush of flowers) should help tidy up the plant and promote a fall rebloom.

Cotoneaster dammeri (Bearberry Cotoneaster)

Bearberry Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster humifusa, Cotoneaster humifusus

Cotoneaster dammeri (Bearberry Cotoneaster) is a vigorous, dense, evergreen shrub with trailing stems studded with small, leathery, glossy, rounded, dark green leaves. The foliage turns reddish-bronze or purplish in winter before becoming green again in spring. Small, 5-petaled, white flowers adorned with purple anthers are produced in late spring to early summer. They are followed by brilliant berries which ripen to bright red in the fall, and persist through winter unless devoured by hungry birds or animals. Easy to grow, Bearberry Cotoneaster makes a very attractive ground cover and looks lovely when draped over the edge of walls or large rocks.

• Grows up in a bushy, densely-branched shrub up to 9-12 in. tall (22-30 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm). The prostate stems spread out horizontally over the ground and can root where they come in contact with the soil.
• A full sun to partial shade lover, this plant is easily grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Although it is drought tolerant once established, occasional watering will help the fruit form to perfection in late summer and fall.
• Excellent ground cover with year round interest. Perfect for banks and slopes (erosion control), as edging in front of beds or borders, rock gardens or cascading over walls.
• Prune to shape as needed.
• Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings.
• Native to China.
• Fruit may cause mild stomach upset if ingested

Calluna vulgaris 'Firefly'

Calluna vulgaris 'Firefly' (Heather) is one of the most colorful and attractive Heathers you can find. Its semi-double, vibrant deep mauve flowers, on display for many weeks in late summer (Aug-Sept), are among the showiest of all Heathers. Wait until you see its foliage that changes through the seasons: bright chartreuse and primrose yellow in spring, whose color intensifies in early fall as it gradually acquires brilliant shades of orange and red until late fall - early winter when the entire plant turns a spectacular, glimmering brick-red.

• Grows up to 18-20 in. tall and wide (45-50 cm).
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
• Performs best in full sun in sandy or gravelly, acidic, moist, well-drained soils. Part shade is welcomed in hot summer areas. Moist and cool climates are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out! Protect your plants from strong winds. Mulch with peat moss.
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to rock gardens, slopes, and cottage gardens. Excellent as a groundcover.

Heuchera 'Amber Waves'

Heuchera, commonly called coral bells or alumroot, is a genus consisting of about 55 species of evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials which are all native to North America. Plants grow in a variety of different habitats including woodland areas, Appalachian seeps, prairies, rocky cliffs, and alpine slopes. Plants range in size from dwarf alpine plants with flower spikes rising to only 5” tall to much larger woodland plants with flower spikes towering 36” tall. Species plants are primarily native to the West, particularly in the Rocky Mountains, with a few species extending into northern Mexico. However, some important species are native to woodland areas in the East and Southeast.

• This clump-forming perennial forms basal mounds, up to 8 in. tall (20 cm) with a spread of 17 in. (43 cm). This sturdy performer is not only easy to grow, but also requires little maintenance and is pest and disease free!
• Performs best in part shade, in rich, humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils. If grown in full sun, make sure the soil remains consistently moist or the foliage might decline. Thrives in dry shade, once established. It is attractive to butterflies and often ignored by deer.
• A spectacular addition to beds, borders, rock gardens, and woodland gardens and is ideal as a groundcover, edger along paths, or in containers. Fabulous when planted in groups!

Salix sitchensis

Salix sitchensis is a species of willow known by the common name Sitka willow.

It is native to northwestern North America from Alaska to northern California to Montana.

It is a common to abundant plant in many types of coastal and inland wetland habitats, such as marshes, riverbanks, swamps, coastal sand dunes, and mountain springs.

Salix sitchensis is variable in appearance, taking the form of a bushy shrub or an erect tree up to 8 m (26 ft) tall. The leaves are up to 12 cm long, lance-shaped or oval with pointed tips, smooth-edged or toothed, often with the edges rolled under. The undersides are hairy to woolly in texture, and the upper surfaces are mostly hairless and dark green.

The inflorescence is a catkin of flowers, slender or short and stout. Male catkins are up to 6 cm long and female catkins are longer, sometimes exceeding 10 cm as the fruits develop. The bloom period is March in California.

Bromus marginatus

Bromus marginatus is a species of grass known by the common name mountain brome. It is native to western North America, and it is used widely for grazing animals and revegetating landscapes.

This short-lived perennial grass forms a large, shallow root network. The roots give it drought tolerance-tolerance, and they persist in the soil long after the plant has died, making it valuable for erosion control.The stems can usually reach one meter in height but are known to reach 1.5 meters. The hairy leaves are up to a centimeter wide. The inflorescence is a nodding panicle of spikelets, each with up to 10 flowers.

In the wild, in its native range, this grass grows in moister areas in mountain sagebrush, scrub, and meadows in the subalpine climate. It can tolerate thin, dry soils and some shade. It establishes easily and can become weedy. It can be planted on slopes and uneven terrain using a broadcast seeding method.

There are several cultivars of this grass, including 'Garnet', 'Bromar', and 'Tacit'.The latter has been known to produce 15 tons per hectare with 3 to 4 harvests per year.