Last night at the meeting of the Santa Barbara Rose Society, we had a speaker from Rincon-Vitova who shared a lot of info on beneficial insects and other organic methods.

 

One I thought people might be especially interested in is Gopher Stopper Clover (Melilotus indica or sourclover) which can be ordered from Rincon-Vitova.  It's a winter-annual legume in Calif and flowers April - October.  Contains coumarin, which is toxic to rodents (and livestock, if you happen to have any -- so care is required). 

 

It's definitely what permaculturists call a "stacking" plant - multiple functions.  It has been used as a green manure and cover crop in citrus and other orchards.  It improve heavy soils because of its deep roots and increases the water-holding capacity of all soils.

 

Rincon-Vitova is at www.rinconvitova.com

 

Linda