Finding plants for coastal gardens can be challenging. While many California natives do well, others need the inland heat to look their best, but whether inland or coastal, natives need at least two years of summer water to get established before you cut their water off.
Many of us in the UC Master Gardener program fell in love with gardening as children, introduced by an older friend or family member who was a passionate gardener.
I see garden escapees whenever I go for a walk: canna lilies at Quarry Park, Mexican Feather Grass infiltrating coastal bluffs, and Agapanthus above Montara beach. When such escapees are not native to the area but are able to survive and reproduce on their own, they are considered naturalized.
Do you green up with envy when your inland-dwelling friends brag about their summer gardens? If so, consider this: lots of sun and not much wind may make growing things a lot simpler, but summer conditions on the coast require higher levels of skill and creativity.
There are few plants as fine as the nasturtium, particularly coastside, where it practically grows itself and is often perennial. The entire plant is edible seeds, stems, leaves, and flowers. Pickling the seedpods makes "poor man's capers.
