So on this 163 median thing, an intrepid CNPSer actually contacted CalTranss landscape architect and got the real skivvy on what they are planning to put in there. This is what he said: there were strict historical criteria to maintain the original design as close as possible. As a result we choose to use native and non-native drought tolerant grasses (not heat tolerant –misquote) that require only periodic mowing to meet our environmental commitments. This solution was vetted through the State Historic Preservation Officer the Balboa Park Committee and city of San Diego. This will be more of a meadow than a traditional mowed lawn I expected to at least see some drought tolerant native bunch grasses. Well, here is their list: 30% TITANIUM LS TALL FESCUE 30% SPYDER LS TALL FESCUE 20% CARDINAL CREEPING RED FESCUE 10% RADAR CHEWINGS FESCUE 10% BLUE VELVET KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS I am not familiar with any of these being native, and I dont know in what universe Kentucky bluegrass is considered drought tolerant or at all appropriate for anything in California. Was there a historic precedent for this mix that they were trying to emulate?? If they really feel they have to have a meadow look, this is what I would say: Do they understand how negatively impactful non-native grasses can be on oak woodland? Heck, if they wanted a meadow, then why not Aristida purpurea [purple three awn] (can tolerate a little more moisture than Stipas, actually grows around oak trees, and gives them the Mexican feather grass look that they so love), some of the beautiful blue native Festuca californicas [Calif. fescue, which can be really blue], Deschampsia caespitosa [tufted hair grass], and even some Carex praegracilis [field sedge] in the lower, wetter areas? Add some Achillea millefolium [common yarrow] for flowering, soft contrast. They could even sow wildflower seeds in this, since these grasses would not compete with them. At least these species would be slightly more compatible than the stuff they are proposing. At least some of these grasses would occur in a real native meadow. Really frustrating.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 07:21:36 +0000
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