Protect Your Home Against Brushfire: Malibu Nursery Specializes in Fire-Retardant Succulent Plants.Lifestyle/Home/Gardening Editors MALIBU, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2003 Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, homeowners can arm themselves against devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. brushfire brush·fire also brush fire n. 1. A fire in low-growing, scrubby trees and brush. 2. A relatively minor crisis. adj. by surrounding their homes with fire-retardant succulent plants Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climate or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems and/or roots. , which consist of 90 percent water. Available in a wide array of exotic shapes, sizes and colors, succulents are also drought-resistant, ideal for Southern California's Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is a climate that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin. Outside the Mediterranean, this climate covers relatively small areas of the Earth, and generally occurs on the western coasts of continental landmasses, roughly between . Hundreds of succulent succulent (sŭk`yələnt), any fleshy plant that belongs to one of many diverse families, among them species of cactus, aloe, stonecrop, houseleek, agave, and yucca. specimens--including aloe, agave, caudiciforms, stonecrops, euphorbias and cacti--are readily available at Serra Gardens in Malibu. The eight-acre nursery, which is open to the landscape trade, express ships plants anywhere in the U.S. via www.cacti.com. The easy-to-use Web site also provides a wealth of information on succulents and how to grow and care for them, as well as a list of recommended books for further reading. All the plants are fully guaranteed, and discounts are offered on large orders and to repeat customers. Replacing highly combustible com·bus·ti·ble adj. Capable of igniting and burning. n. A substance that ignites and burns readily. plants, which quickly fuel flames, with water-retaining succulents can be an important step in combating brushfire, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Serra owner Don Newcomer. "Subtle changes in landscaping around houses and other structures can make a huge difference in a property's ability to retard the spread of fire." While succulents may broil or bake, they are unlikely to burn. Most will not burst into flame and will not spread fire. In addition, they make beautiful, exotic gardens that thrive in bright sunlight and with good air circulation and drainage. "They do have to be weeded, fed and watered," admonishes Newcomer, "but if you forget to water them, they're more forgiving than other plants. They're perfect for people with a black thumb." Newcomer, who began growing succulents as a hobby when he was a teenager, now supplies plants and information to hundreds of Southern California gardens. Having operated the nursery for more than 25 years, he is widely respected for his extensive knowledge. "We grow everything right here, outside under full exposure, and we make and mix our own soil," says Newcomer. "We don't bring in plants from natural habitats; we know exactly how everything has been grown and cultivated." For more information, visit www.cacti.com or phone 310-456-5142. EDITORS: Nursery owner Don Newcomer is your expert source on fire-retardant succulent plants and how to grow them to protect property. Call him at 310-456-1572 to arrange an interview at Serra Gardens in Malibu. |
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