Flowers. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) is highly satisfying to grow due to its unusual look and ease of care. Its name is misleading since it is native to the droughty habitat of Mediterranean woodlands. I have seen it growing wild in Israel without the benefit of any summer irrigation. This unusual annual plant sports tightly arrayed green bells that take on a tawny color as spring gives way to summer. Seeds are produced at the bottom of every bell so that, if you leave the plants in place, they will self-sow and give you more of the same the following year. Bells of Ireland is also an excellent candidate for dry flower arrangements. It is adaptable to virtually any soil type and may be planted anywhere in California.
Fruits. Pepino dulce (Solanum muricatum) is a tomato relative that grows under similar conditions and may even be trained up a trellis like a vine. It grows naturally into an asymmetrical three-foot-tall plant with a spread of four feet. The flavor of its fruit is melon mixed with pear or cucumber, depending on who’s tasting it. Football-shaped fruits, up to a pound in weight, are appearing now and measure two to six inches long. Fruit is greenish yellow with purple stripes to solid purple, depending on the variety. Leaves are bright green and, overall, the plant is highly ornamental in addition to its edible aspect. While technically a perennial, it is usually grown as an annual due to its sensitivity to cold. It does propagate readily, however, from five-inch stem cuttings.
Vegetables. You can still plant warm-season vegetables in August. However, they will do better this time of year as transplanted seedlings, since otherwise, if planted from seed, they may not begin to produce a crop before cooler temperatures arrive. Plant seedling starts of tomatoes, squash, Persian cucumbers, eggplant, bell and chili peppers. Plant them in compost-enriched soil and give them 6-8 hours of direct sun for best results.
Herbs. Black flower mint or Andean silver-leaf sage (Salvia discolor) is a fascinating plant for several reasons. Its flowers are as close to black as any you will encounter. Blackish flowers (there is no truly black flower) are nearly always the result of hybridization, such as in the case of black tulip, black iris, black pansy and black petunia. But the black observed in Andean sage flowers is naturally occurring. As a bonus, rub its two-toned foliage — green on the top and silver on the bottom — between thumb and forefinger for an aromatically minty delight.
Most people know that drip irrigation saves water, but it also makes plants grow faster than when they are watered by overhead sprinklers or even by hand with one of those shower head hose attachments. The reason is that the leaves of many plants cover their roots, effectively blocking overhead spray from reaching them adequately. By contrast, under each drip irrigation emitter, an onion-shaped, wet spot is created As the water in that area moves up the soil profile through capillary action after that day’s watering cycle is complete, every molecule of stored irrigation water cools the roots and then be absorbed by them, accelerating plant growth in the process.