Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegatus’ planted between the Blue Oat Grass and gradually dying out Cornus ‘Kelseyii’. It has been very slow. Understandable given the horrendous fill soil conditions. In the immediate area are also a young Quercus chrysolepis, Arbutus menziesii, Arctostaphylos x ‘Pacific Mist’, Cistus x ‘Blanche’, Philadelphus lewisii, Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ and Holodiscus discolor

One of the Arctostaphylos viscida ‘Sweet Adinah’ scattered in the dying clumps of Ceanothus i. ‘Vandenburg’. This one is furthest south. These dead ‘holes’ have been heavily invaded by primarily annual weeds. A volunteer Deschampsia caespitosa, I believe, nearby.

The second grassy bay, below the Harborside Restaurant, between the Taxodium clumps. A sweep of Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’ at the bottom, Ceanothus cuneatus ‘Blue Sierra’ at the left and two Arctostaphylos x ‘Harmony’. The grasses are Kohleria macrantha, native, Festuca rubra commutatta and a few nasty invaders.

Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Emily Brown’ with the bunch grass Kohleria macrantha, Arctostaphylos densiflorus ‘Howard McMinn at the top edge all sprinkled with Taxodium leaf debris.

A little Arctostaphylos x ‘Harmony’ with Kohleria macrantha clumps and Cistus p. ‘Sunset’

At the left Mahonia aquifolium ‘Compacta’, then Cistus ‘Silver Pink’ in the foreground (original to the ’04 planting) which has struggled (?), a line of med. green is Arctostaphylos densiflorus ‘Howard McMinn’ backed, down slope, by Ceanothus impressus ‘Vandenburg’ much finer and darker. This last is the most intact of all the clumps on the bank.

The A.d. ‘Howard McMinn showing where one of the recent C.i. ‘Vandenberg’ died and was removed.

One of the remaining Ceanothus impressus ‘Vandenberg’ with Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Umpqua Sky. There used to be a dense mass of C.i. ‘Vandenberg’ covering this whole area.

Arctostaphylos bakeri ‘Louis Edmonds’ growing amidst Blue Oat Grass

A very happy stand of Cistus x ‘Elma’ from the original ’04 planting

Quercus chrysolepis, the Canyon Live Oak from southern Oregon. One of three, this one is planted in a ‘hole’ in the center of another dying clump of C.i. ‘Vandenberg’.

Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths’ blooming on the left with a long sweep of Cistus x ‘Snow Fire’ (plus a Blackberry)

A dense planting of Cistus x ‘Snow Fire’ reflecting the low angled winter sun.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Umpqua Sky filling in for the now very dead C.i. ‘Vandenberg’ below an unknown white flowering shrubby Potentilla from the original ’04 planting.

Arctostaphylos viscida ‘Sweet Adinah’. Keep your fingers crossed that no one, i.e., campers/drinkers, stomp it. Lost one of three here at Riverplace.  This too was planted where the C.I. ‘Vandenberg’ has been failing.

Carpenteria californica at the top of bank in shade from the Taxodiums and the hotel.

A new invader here, Geranium lucidum, spreading fast!  Along with Hypochaeris radicata, or Cat’s Ear/False Dandelion and, to the left, Achillea millefolium which I seeded. In some areas the Hypochaeris has been really bad.

Arctostaphylos pajaroense ‘Warren Roberts’ with volunteer Redtwig behind down in the rip-rap. Ramp to the north breakwater in background.

The planting of Carex tumulicola was done around ’06 when a previous planting failed. Now you can see it moving down and across slope into the Blue Oat Grass by seed.

One of three Quercus wislizenii at this end of Riverplace. These were all cut down in their first year by beaver. Seems to be a common response to browsing.

Another A.p. ‘Warren Roberts amidst Taxodium detritus, Blue Oat Grass and volunteer Carex tumulicola

A volunteer Doug Fir (hmmm) growing with a very happy sweep of Cistus platysepalus, Taxodium distichum marching along the bank and Redtwig Dogwood in the rip-rap.

Cistus x ‘Blanche’ doing well all over 6′ tall.

Another sprouting Quercus wislizenii amidst Cistus x ‘Blanche’ and the bare stems of Philadelphus lewisii. (Hawthorne Bridge in the background).

Cistus x dansereaui Jenkyn Place above a retaining wall at the top of the north breakwater ramp

A young Pacific Madrone poking up out of a sweep of Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’, Cistus x ‘Blanche’ above and behind with Cistus platysepalus stretching out to the left.

A sad Arbutus arizonica in its second January near the top of the bank below the overlook at 5-Flags. This area has even worse, rocky-clay conditions and most of the woodies planted here are struggling. One Pacific Madrone remains. You can also see some of the insidious English Ivy that has resisted all efforts to date.

Looking down from 5-Flags one sees the low fine mat of the Festuca rubra commutatta punctuated with Muhlenbergia ringens, California Poppy have established after a seeding and some of the Zuaschneria Silver Select (generally one of the more robust forms for me) is struggling to establish. More Cistus x dansereaui is below the two signs in the background. Several Arctostaphylos have been planted along with Spiarea betulifolia, smaller Ceanothus, Argyrocytisus battandieri and others. We shall see.