Archives | Curbstone Valley

Western Sword Fern

by Clare | Nov 30, 2009 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Native Plants, Natives

There is no better start to the day than the sense of calm and serenity one feels when walking through mature redwood groves, with large colonies of Western Sword Ferns (Polystichum munitum) growing at their feet, backlit by the early morning sun. The Western Sword...

Coast Range Newt

by Clare | Nov 21, 2009 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Native Wildlife, Natives

Yesterday’s rain brought out another salamander species here at Curbstone Valley, the Coast Range Newt (Taricha torosa torosa), also known as the California Newt. Each year, as the rains return, these newts can be seen scrabbling about the forest, and...

Broom Bashing

by Clare | Nov 18, 2009 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Invasives

French broom (Genista monspessulana), a Mediterranean native similar in appearance to Scotch broom, is right at the top of my list of most loathed plants. French broom was first introduced to California in 1871, escaped cultivation, and was so successful at...

Salvia ‘Purple Majesty’

by Clare | Nov 16, 2009 | Farm Blog, Flowers, Garden

Salvia is the largest genus in the mint family, consisting of more than 900 species of plants, from culinary and medicinal herbs, to stunning garden flowers. The word Salvia comes from the Latin ‘salvare’, meaning to heal or save. The leaves of...

California Slender Salamander

by Clare | Nov 15, 2009 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Native Wildlife, Natives

I wasn’t intending on posting another fauna piece so soon, but a few nights ago I met someone new on the property. Well, new to me. It was just dark, and I went to lock our hens up for the night. I entered the chicken run where the hens were still milling...