Dahlias in the Botanical Gardens

Recently I visited the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens with my wife and friends. We left our inland homes and drove through the redwood forests to spend the afternoon surrounded by 47 acres of spectacular beauty. The riotous colors displayed from over 450 dahlias during late summer are a very special sight to see.

The gardens offer an elegant display of color and diversity as dahlias bloom in late summer.

Photos courtesy of Driplines: Adventures with Drip Irrigation

As you tour the gardens, DripWorks products are evident throughout. In summer, the umbrella pattern of our adjustable Spectrum Sprayer on a stake provides ample water to the dahlias while Ein Dor Mini Sprinklers enhance the natural coastal influence to keep the fuchsias and begonias cool and moist well into autumn.

Over a dozen sculptures (featuring works from the Arts Council of Mendocino County) are scattered about the acreage, a gilding of the lily in a place where, from the blooming of their signature rhododendrons in the spring, to the fruiting of wild mushrooms (over 150 varieties) in the fall and winter, there is always something wonderful to see.

Coastal headlands surrounding the gardens provides visitors with incredible ocean views 

and a chance to enjoy the coast's diverse wildlife.

Photo by Ingrid Taylor (Flickr /Creative Commons License)

Located on 47 acres of coastal headlands, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens stretch from scenic Highway 1 to the Pacific shoreline. If you go there, expect to share your experience with native black-tailed deer as well as the many water-loving birds like osprey, cormorants, herons, and Canadian Geese calling this place home. Pack a lunch to eat or visit Rhody’s Café (open 9-3:30 daily) for a Portobello pizza or one of their homemade ice cream sandwiches. Finally, make sure you stop into the Gardens Store and Retail Nursery. That way you can get started on creating your own botanical garden!

If you are interested in setting up your home garden on a drip system we offer a variety of products to meet your systems needs. Here are a few suggestions from Dripworks to get you started:

• Use Ein Dor Mini Sprinklers in your flower beds. Available in four versions with diameters ranging from 5’-13’, they provide even coverage and a low trajectory that minimizes water loss through wind drift.
• For individual plants, Pressure Compensating Emitters like the Woodpecker or Cobra work best.
• Emitter Tubing is an ideal choice for long fence lines or for circling larger trees.
• For shrubs, raised beds, irregularly shaped areas, or gardens with low water pressure, Soaker Dripline is the best product.
• If you’re still unsure, try one of our new Drip Irrigation Kits that provide a complete system

For more products and information, visit www.Dripworks.com and we’ll help get you started. The rest is up to you!