ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE AUGMENTS SPRING COLOR

Tony Tomeo, Contributor

Spring bloom is the most colorful color in the garden here. It is not the only color, though. Some deciduous foliage will provide color at the opposite end of the year. Bark can add a bit of color, particularly while deciduous trees defoliate for winter. So can colorful fruit. Furthermore, ornamental foliage, both deciduous and evergreen, can contribute color.

Ornamental foliage is not the same as deciduous foliage that is colorful only for autumn. The distinction is that it is colorful from the beginning. Generally, it is most colorful while fresh during spring. If both deciduous and colorful for autumn, it changes from one color scheme to another. If evergreen, it may remain more or less colorful throughout the year.

Ornamental foliage of this sort displays various colors and patterns. Variant colors might be yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, pink, bronze, white or gray. They can be variegation such as stripes, margins, blotches, spots, patterns or blushes. Alternatively, they can be monochromatic. Most fade to some degree during the warm and dry weather of summer.

ADDING COLOR Variegation contrasts nicely with darker foliage.

The colors of ornamental foliage are not as vibrant as floral color. They are not intended to attract pollinators.

In fact, most of such color serves no practical purpose. Blue, gray or white foliage mostly originates from high altitudes or harsh desert climates. It reflects a bit of excessive sunlight to avert scorch. Most other ornamental foliage is mere mutation.

In the wild, such mutant foliage is

Tech Companies Eye Forestry

Wildfire, from page 8 generally a disadvantage. White portions of variegated leaves contain less chlorophyll. Consequently, they can not photosynthesize as much as green portions. Such foliage only perpetuates unnaturally within cultivation because it is appealing. Some mutant ornamental foliage can revert to more vigorous greener growth.

Fire, who had been questioning if they’d performed the work they were supposed to, until they turned over data collected via the Earth Force platform, he added.

Experts say Silicon Valley has turned its attention to forestry because it’s an industry that hasn’t seen the efficiency gains of other sectors.

Through a fellowship program, Google has even lent out multiple engineers—who attended the task force conference—to help develop a data visualization app meant to be used to streamline planning efforts.

Lisa Lurie, the RCD’s executive director, says the tool could prove useful in helping prioritize various tasks.

“We participated in some early focus groups,” she says, of the software, which is now moving into beta version.

Also represented at the task force gathering was Land Tender, the forest health-focused initial software offering from Vibrant Planet, the Tahoe company backed by former Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt, Facebook Chief Product Officer Chris Cox and Halogen Ventures. State Parks officials say efficiency is welcome.

Ornamental foliage can be annual, perennial or woody. New Zealand flax,

For example, Hyland told the tour group he can get a burn permit for a regular old brush pile “tomorrow,” but as soon as he brings in a fancy aeration burner—which is cleaner and much safer—getting the paperwork sorted out becomes a nightmare.

Christiansen says he understands Hyland’s frustration. He had one of those box burners and couldn’t even find a buyer for it.

In an interview following the previous day’s all-day workshop at the Cocoanut Grove, down at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Patrick Wright, director of the governor’s Wildfire Task Force, explains removing red tape is one of the reasons they convened the different players.

“If we’re going to tackle the forest canna, coleus and caladium are the most variably colorful. Coprosma and various pittosporum are a bit more limited. Euonymus, hosta and ivy display white or yellow variegation. Smoke tree, redbud and some maples are surprisingly diverse. Agave blue spruce and some junipers can contribute gray and blue. There are too many options to mention.

Highlight: tree houseleek health crisis, it’s gotta be a collaborative effort,” he says. “We’re not going to be able to scale-up unless we work together.”

This must be one of the sillier horticultural names. Tree houseleek, Aeonium arboreum, is neither a tree nor related to leeks. The biggest cultivars can not stand much more than three feet tall. Above that, their succulent foliage gets too heavy for their fleshy stems and fine roots. They perform well as houseplants only within very sunny situations.

Formerly common tree houseleek, with simple green foliage, is not so common anymore. Almost all popular modern cultivars are variegated or bronzed, with wide foliar rosettes. Variegation ranges from bright lemony yellow to creamy white. Bronze ranges from light brown to very darkly purplish. Foliar rosettes are about four to eight inches wide.

Plumply conical trusses of tiny yellow or chartreuse flowers bloom for spring. They are neither numerous nor brightly colorful, but are weirdly interesting. Fresh spring foliage is most colorful and lush. It can fade and partially shed during arid summer weather. New plants propagate very easily from dragging stems or cuttings of pruning scraps.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

Task force co-chair Jennifer Eberlien, a regional forester with the National Forest Service, was riding high after a day of presentations and idea-sharing. But just because she’s optimistic, doesn’t mean the path forward isn’t daunting.

“Our vision is to at least get a million acres treated by 2025 and keep that going,” she says. “You’re prepping that landscape to have fire naturally return.”

The Santa Cruz County get-together was all about solving problems, according to Eberlien.

“We’re here to make lives better,” she said. “We’re here to make the land better.”

Live Oak Adult Day Services Reopening

On June 1, the reopening reception of the Live Oak Adult Day Services will be held from 4-6pm, with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Maria Ristow at 5pm. The reception, with light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, will be at the Live Oak Los Gatos site, 111 Church St. in Los Gatos.

Blood Drive

The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Robin Sedgwick and Don Knight of Coldwell Banker Realty, and Stanford Blood Center, is holding a blood drive outside its office, 10 Station Way, on June 2 from 10am to 3pm.

➝ sbcdonor.org/donor/schedules/ drive_schedule/12233.

‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE’ SCREENING BENEFIT

The Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation will host an evening at the CineLux Los Gatos Theatre on July 19 for the premier showing of the new movie “Mission: Impossible.” It will start at 7pm and the cost will be a $50 donation to the Veterans Foundation.

➝ bit.ly/4183sMr.

Live Jazz Music

Live jazz performances at the Tasting House, 368 Village Lane, take place Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9pm, and Sundays from 11am-2pm.

ENTERTAINMENT AT GARDINO’S

Gardino’s, 51 N. Santa Cruz Ave., features entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoons.

➝ bit.ly/3OSvPHS.

Ongoing

Los Gatos Farmers Market

The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables from Santa Clara County yearround. More than 40 local farmers and food producers sell their wares Sundays from 9am to 1pm at Town Park Plaza on Main Street and N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

➝ cafarmersmkts.com/losgatosfarmers-market.

Campbell Farmers Market

The Downtown Campbell Farmers Market is held Sundays, rain or shine, from 9am to 1pm.

➝ uvfm.org/campbell-sundays.

The Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos

The club meets the first three Thursdays of the month at noon at Double D's, 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave. First two Thursdays of the month feature guest speakers.

➝ lgkiwanisgives.org.

Rotary Club of Los Gatos

The Rotary Club of Los Gatos meets Tuesdays from noon to 1:30pm at Shir Hadash Synagogue, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane. For information, visit losgatosrotary.org.

The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club

The Club meets every Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Program includes featured guest speakers.

Los Gatos Lions Club

The Los Gatos Lions Club meets every Wednesday. A breakfast meeting is held at Moore Buick, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., at 8am and a noon meeting at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, with a guest speaker. The club has been active since 1946.

Friends of Los Gatos Library Bookstore

The Friends of Los Gatos Library Bookstore is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1-6pm at the library, 110 E. Main St. For information, email friendsoflglib@aol.com.

Public Meetings

Town Council

The Los Gatos Town Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm. For information, visit losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council.

Planning Commission

The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

➝ losgatosca.gov/189/PlanningCommission.

Santa Clara County Supervisors

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meets virtually on Tuesdays at 9am.

➝ bit.ly/3oy2Zmq.

Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District

The board meets every other Tuesday at 5pm.

➝ bit.ly/3DaJRi9.

Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees

The board meets monthly at either 6:30pm or 4pm.

➝ bit.ly/3oywlRA.

Other Town commissions

The Town of Los Gatos has various committees that serve as advisory bodies for the Town Council.

➝ losgatosca.gov/12/BoardsCommissions-Committees.