Montgomery – Wright Estate · Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg CA

BotanicalField Guide

Plant Palette & Ecological Relationships

2150 & 2151 West Dry Creek Road · APN 089-190-034 · Design Lead: Alex

01
The Land

Where the Valley
Meets the Creek

Dry Creek Valley sits within a narrow, north-northwest trending corridor flanked by the Mayacamas range to the east and the Russian River watershed to the west. At 2150 W Dry Creek Road, the land occupies one of the valley's most ecologically layered positions — a wedge where cultivated vineyard grades into a live-oak and willow riparian corridor along Dry Creek itself.

The plant palette presented here is structured to honor that layering: cultivated anchor plants near structures, Mediterranean companions in the transitional zone, and California natives anchoring the riparian setbacks where regulatory overlays (RC50/25, RC100/50) shape what can and must be planted.

"A garden in Dry Creek Valley is never just ornamental — it is a node in a living network of pollinators, raptors, seasonal hydrology, and deep soil mycorrhiza that predates the vineyard rows by centuries."

The Dry Creek Valley appellation sits at the convergence of multiple ecological zones. Oak woodland savanna dominates the upper slopes; riparian willow-cottonwood gallery forest traces the creek corridor; and the valley floor is a mosaic of vineyard monoculture interrupted by remnant native plant communities wherever the plow has not reached.

This site's position adjacent to Dry Creek — a tributary of the Russian River — means planting decisions carry ecological weight beyond the property line. Species selected for riparian buffers directly influence water temperature, bank stability, invertebrate habitat, and the food web that sustains listed Coho Salmon and Steelhead.

The palette prioritizes biological diversity over visual uniformity, establishing layered plant communities that mimic the structure of the valley's pre-agricultural landscape while serving the aesthetic and programmatic goals of the estate.

Biological Dynamics

The Living Systems
Beneath the Landscape

Dry Creek Valley's biodiversity is shaped by three overlapping systems: the oak-woodland food web, the riparian wildlife corridor, and the underground mycorrhizal network connecting plant communities across the valley floor.

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Native Pollinator Network

Dry Creek Valley hosts over 40 species of native bees, including Valley Carpenter Bees, Blue Orchard Bees, and several Bombus (bumblebee) species. The palette's lavender, ceanothus, salvia, and rosemary provide sequential bloom from February through October — a continuous forage corridor that supports native bee population health and the valley's broader agricultural ecosystem.

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Raptor & Songbird Corridor

The property sits within a documented corridor for Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and White-tailed Kite. Toyon, coast live oak, sycamore, and redbud plantings provide nesting substrate, perch structure, and berry crops that attract and retain the full spectrum of Dry Creek avifauna — from Acorn Woodpeckers and Cedar Waxwings to wintering Varied Thrush.

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Riparian & Aquatic Health

Dry Creek supports a remnant population of Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout — both ESA-listed. Bank-stabilizing natives (ceanothus, deer grass, sycamore, sedge) reduce sediment input. Shade trees reduce water temperature. Riparian plantings within RC setbacks are measurable contributions to listed species recovery in the Russian River basin.

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Mycorrhizal Wood Wide Web

The valley's mature oaks are connected by a vast underground fungal network — ectomycorrhizal species trading water and mineral nutrients between trees. Native plants sharing mycorrhizal partners with existing oaks (ceanothus, toyon, coffeeberry) establish faster when inoculated at planting. Avoiding soil disturbance in oak dripzones preserves this invisible infrastructure.

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Butterfly & Moth Habitat

The watershed supports California Sister, Painted Lady, and various Hairstreaks. Ceanothus is the larval host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly; native oaks host hundreds of moth species whose caterpillars are the primary food source for nesting songbirds — the most direct ecological argument for incorporating native trees and shrubs.

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Soil Biology & Carbon

Dry Creek Valley's clay-loam soils, managed organically, sequester significant carbon and develop complex microbial communities that improve plant resilience and reduce irrigation demand. No-till planting, mulched rootzones, and compost-based amendments build the soil food web that makes Mediterranean and native plants self-sustaining over time.

Seasonal Bloom Calendar

What's Alive When

— Spring — Feb thru Apr

Western Redbud — saturated magenta on bare wood
Ceanothus — cobalt blue, peak native bee activity
Hummingbird Sage — magenta, shade edge
Rosemary — pale blue, first bee forage of year
Native Sedge — spring green flush

— Summer — May thru Aug

Iceberg Rose — white, peak flush and repeat
Lavender 'Hidcote' — purple spike, full bloom
Grosso Lavender — later, larger scale
Cleveland Sage — violet-blue, hummingbird peak
Catmint — lavender-blue, rose companion
Deer Grass — silver plumes emerge

— Fall — Sep thru Nov

Toyon — brilliant red berry clusters ripen
Iceberg Rose — second flush, cooler weather
Western Redbud — orange-red foliage color
Olive — fruit ripens on culinary cultivars

— Winter — Dec thru Jan

Toyon — peak berry display, Waxwing arrival
Coast Live Oak — evergreen structure dominates
Teucrium — silver foliage holds through cold
Rosemary — sporadic winter bloom, early bees

Stewardship
Principles for
a Working
Estate

Iceberg Roses

Hard prune to 12–18" in late January. Feed with organic rose fertilizer at first leaf bud, again at first bloom, and once more in August. Deadhead spent clusters throughout the season. Watch for aphids in March–April; a strong jet of water is often sufficient. Mulch rootzone to 4" depth to suppress weeds and retain moisture through summer drought.

Lavender — Annual Care

Cut back by one-third immediately after the primary bloom flush (typically July in Dry Creek). Never cut into grey, woody tissue — this will not regenerate. Division every 3–4 years prevents the open, woody center that reduces ornamental value. Sharp drainage is essential; raised beds or amended slopes prevent root rot in clay soils common to the valley floor.

Natives — Establishment Protocol

Plant in fall (October–November) to take advantage of winter rains. Water weekly for the first summer, biweekly in year two, then cease supplemental irrigation entirely for most species in year three. Never fertilize established natives. Annual light cleanup of dead wood and spent flower stalks is all that is required. Resist the urge to overwater — most failures in California native plantings are water-related.

Irrigation Design

Separate drip zones are essential: roses and lavender share a zone (moderate summer irrigation); Mediterranean companions a second zone (low summer irrigation); California natives a third zone (zero summer irrigation after year two). No overhead spray in any zone. Smart controller with weather-based ET adjustment is strongly recommended given EHD septic constraints on runoff.

Riparian Setback Planting

Within RC50/25 and RC100/50 zones: use only California native species. No soil amendment, no synthetic fertilizer, no imported topsoil within setback areas. Plant during fall to spring rainy season only. Coordinate any riparian revegetation with PRMD Natural Resources and confirm RWQCB notification requirements before breaking ground adjacent to the creek or unnamed tributary.