A dedicated group of AGC members have been planting and gardening North Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden for years, The Club calls them ‘The Heirloom Gardeners’. The community of Ashland enjoys the Heirloom Garden in all seasons, but spring is especially delightful.
Plant Name: Arctostaphylos columbiana 
Common name: Hairy Manzanita
Plant type: Shrub
Height: 3’ – 10’
Spread: 10’
Bloom Time: March – May
Flower Color: Pale Pink to White; Fruit is Tawny Orange to Bright Red
Exposure: Sun to Light Shade
Soil Requirements: Fast Draining; Rocky, Sandy Soil
Water Needs: Very Low
Attributes: Evergreen; Supports Butterflies & Moths & Hummingbirds & Beneficial Insects; Distinctive Bark; Early Season Flowering for Pollinators
Firewise: NO
Note: Subject to Leaf Spot; Don’t Fertilize
Uses: Pollinator Gardens, Native Gardens, Wildlife Habitat Gardens, Natural areas, Perennial gardens
Native to: Northwest California to Southwestern British Columbia
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8b -10a
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener
Photo from Oregon State University: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-columbiana
Plant Name: Arctostaphylos patula
Common name: Greenleaf Manzanita
Plant type: Shrub
Height: 3.3’ – 7’
Spread: 6’ – 9’
Bloom Time: Winter – Spring
Flower Color: White, Pink
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Fast Draining; Slightly Acidic.
Water Needs: Low; Deep Moisture.
Attributes: Insects Attracted to Flowers Including Native Bees; Birds Attracted to Fruits; Hosts Butterflies & Moths; Nectar Source.
Firewise: YES; One of the Few Manzanitas That Are Fire-Resistant.
Note: Slow Growing; Tolerates Very Cold Temperatures.
Uses: Hedges; Bird & Hummingbird Gardens; Bee Gardens; Erosion Control.
Native to: Sierra Nevadas/North Coast Range California/Oregon/Washington; Parts of Arizona/Colorado.
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5b – 9b
Article by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener
Photo courtesy of Pat Breen, Oregon State University
Plant Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’
Common name: Point Reyes Bearberry Manzanita
Plant type: Groundcover
Height: 12” – 18”
Spread: 1’ – 6’
Bloom Time: Winter – Spring
Flower Color: Pink
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Draining; Tolerant of Most Soil Types.
Water Needs: Low to Moderate
Attributes: Insects & Hummingbirds Attracted to Flowers; Fruit & Seed Eating Birds Attracted to Fruit ; Deer Resistant.
Firewise: YES; Zone 5 – Plant 60’+ from House.
Note: Prune in Early Spring as Needed to Contain Spread.
Uses: Slope Stabilizer; Bee, Bird, Hummingbird Gardens; Lawn Substitute.
Native to: Alaska to Canada to Western United States
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 – 10
Article by Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener
Photos by OSU https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi-point-reyes
Oregon State University: Principles of Pruning Videos
Pruning Pros – In these clips, tree care pros with decades of experience will guide the viewer through the decision-making process—and solutions—to pruning larger, established trees.
Pruning Basics for Trees and Shrubs
Learn proper pruning technique, best timing, and which tools to use for landscape trees, conifers, and shrubs.
Get information about pruning fruit trees in this OSU Master Gardener 10-Minute University™ Class presented by OSU Master Gardener Sherry Sheng.
Pruning fruit trees
by 10-Minute University/OSU Master Gardeners
Pruning or training fruit trees
by 10-Minute University/OSU Master Gardeners
Plant Name: Gaillardia varieties
Common name: Blanket Flower
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 8” – 36”
Plant Width: 12” – 24”
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color: Red, Gold, Burgundy
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1-8, Plant 30’+ from House.
Attributes: Drought Tolerant; Deer Resistant; Attracts Birds & Butterflies; Other Pollinators.
Uses: Good Cut Flower; Container Plant; Borders; Butterfly Gardens;
Note: Deadhead for Continuous Bloom; Keep Some Seed Heads for Birds; Cutting Back Clumps in Late Summer Increases Chance of Winter Survival; Divide Clumps Every 2 – 3 Years in Spring or Early Fall for Plant Vigor; Susceptible to Powdery Mildew, Leafspot, & Leafhoppers.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 10
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener
Photo credit: Lazaregagnidze, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons