Posted on March 11, 2014 

Where I live, there are rules about what can be planted in our front landscaping area. These Owner landscape maintenance rules have to do with planting materials that are fire resistant.  I have taken this one step further and researched a list of safe, non-toxic plants and cross-referenced this with the fire resistant ones. I came up with a one page summary from all of these lists. It is fun to do this as I feel like I am really making my family’s (including my kitty’s) home safer. I am also complying with the landscape maintenance rules of my Homeowner’s Association. I am excited because now I have finally narrowed down this whole project to a one page list from which I will select various plants and really do my front garden correctly. It should be so beautiful when I am done.

It is feeling like spring here in Northern California. Daylight savings time has resumed and the air is fresh and sweet. The sun is out and warming the ground. I am going forward now with being a responsible parent and kitty owner and planting safely. I hope others here in this community will start paying more attention to this, but if not, at least I am doing it in my area. It makes me feel good knowing that I have researched the plants and know what is not safe around here. And there are some that are not.

My kitty is enjoying the wheat berry grass that is growing just for him on top of my front patio table.  He is relaxing and loving it and so am I. So, if you are in the mood for planting as many people are this time of year, make sure you do a little research first and check out this website from the University of California, Davis. They are the ones that compiled this handy list in 2012. I am providing their link for those who are interested as I am in this important information: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/files/154528.pdf.

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