Things are already drying up and beginning to go dormant for the dry season. Luckily we got almost 2 inches or 50mm of rain this week, much of which soaked into the ground thanks to the water retaining structures we built. A lot of this moisture will hopefully stick around for a while in the shady mulches and soils around our plants.
As the dry season approaches, most plants will go dormant, reducing the size of new leaves and dropping many of their leaves (drought-deciduous) to reduce water loss. Each year we're seeing fewer signs of stress on the plants during the dry season, as they establish and develop into a more resilient forest.
The structure of the forest garden is beginning to change more rapidly. Several of our native plants are at about head-height, creating more complex and layered forest structures. Eventually, native canopy species will grow over our heads and create newer conditions and opportunities for biodiversity to thrive. The non-native and invasive trees will be phased out, in favor of the appropriate native species.
Likewise, the non-native grasslands that dominate the area will be phased out in favor of native shrubs and groundcovers. These grasses simplify habitat structure, reduce soil moisture, and prevent native seedlings from growing. Read more at www.fs.usda.go...
29 сен 2024
