Rewilding the High Point

The “High Point,” the highest natural point on the Ranch. Photo taken 2/17/14.

We’ve begun rewilding the “High Point”, the butte that represents the highest natural point on the property.

Rewilding means clearing out invasive and non-native species, and replacing these with native plants.

Native plants have many benefits. One is they attract natural predators, which will provide protection from pests in the adjacent and soon-to-be-built vineyard!

Native plants also attract pollinators, like bees. We want bees to beeeeee happy!

Native plants need very little water. During this drought, we believe that every drop counts.

And best of all, these native plants will provide a forageable and edible landscape. That’s right, you can eat them!

Creating A Natural Sanctuary

Our goal is to turn this natural landscape into a sanctuary, a place for quiet and reflection.

A meandering trail and sitting areas will enhance the sense of tranquility under the shade of native oak trees.

The trail will be mostly constructed with materials found on our property.  Decomposed granite will provide a permeable trailbed, so rainwater is collected and not washed away.

We are beginning work on the high point this week, we’ll keep you updated with its progress!

Beginning of trail work at High Point.

Native Plants coming to the Ranch

  • ADH – Arctostaphylos ‘Dr. Hurd’ – Tree manzanita
  • ADM – Arctostaphylos ‘Del Mar’ – Groundcover Del Mar manzanita
  • AG – Arctostaphylos glauca – Bigberry manzanita
  • AGC – Arctostaphylos glandulosa crassifolia – Del Mar manzanita
  • AHM – Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’ – Howard McMinn manzanita
  • AM – Artemisia ‘Montara’ – Groundcover california sagebrush
  • AMB – Arctostaphylos ‘Mama Bear’ – Mama bear manzanita
  • AREF – Arctostaphylos refugioensis – Refugio manzanita
  • AS – Arctostaphylos ‘Sunset’ – Sunset manzanita
  • BPP – Baccharis ‘Pigeon Point’ – Dwarf coyote brush
  • CD – Comarostaphylis diversifolia – Summer holly
  • CJC – Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’ – Groundcover wild lilac
  • CND – Cneoridium dumosum – Bush rue
  • Ceanothus ‘Remote Blue’ – Remote blue wild lilac
  • CT – Ceanothus tomentosus – Woolly leaf wild lilac
  • CV – Ceanothus verrucosus – Warty stem wild lilac
  • CWC – Ceanothus ‘Wheeler Canyon’ – Wheeler canyon wild lilac
  • DH – Dendromecon harfordii – Island bush poppy
  • EA – Eriogonum arborescens – Santa Cruz Island buckwheat
  • EPAR – Eriogonum parvifolium – Sea Cliff buckwheat
  • HA – Heteromeles arbutifolia – Toyon, California holly berry
  • LF – Lyonothamnus floribundus – Catalina ironwood
  • LSD – Lonicera subspicata denudata – San Diego honeysuckle
  • QA – Quercus agrifolia – Coast live oak
  • QD – Quercus dumosa – Scrub oak
  • QE – Quercus engelmannii – Engelmann oak
  • RI – Rhus integrifolia – Lemonadeberry
  • RID – Ribes indecorum – White flowering currant
  • SWG – Salvia ‘Winifred Gilman’ – Cleveland sage
  • XB – Xyloccocus bicolor
  • Mission manzanita