It's totally normal for Ceanothus to have lower/inner leaves turn yellow and drop off in the summer. The plant actually 'wants' to go semi-dormant in summer. I don't know exactly what the rule of thumb is if the plant is still really young but I would try to avoid watering it at all unless it looks truly at risk. Since you're watering very often now, I'd suggest switching to very infrequent (Puzzled by the statement that slopes do not help drainage. Maybe more accurate to say that a little hill won't help unless it's big enough relative to the crown? Another way to go with the time of day to water is early morning so that the soil is likeliest to dry during the course of the day.

"I don't think that White Plymouth Rocks are a mistake, Gail. Part of the enjoyment in having the hens is seeing them out on the green grass on a sunny day. The Barred Rocks and the White Rocks will look good together." Thanks for the encouragement, Digit. I won't kick myself in the backside too hard over this even though my husband asked "Why would anyone want a boring white chicken" last night. I decided last night that I'm going to get some of the Orphingtons when I go to town next week for another round of poison. They should still have a few. Last night I noticed one of the banties was a feather-footed variety. Unfortunately, she didn't make it through the night so now I have none. Obviously this is a problem that needs correction. I'll keep my eye on the feed store for a few more cochins and brahmas. It is hilarious to watch their funny gate when the flock takes off running. They had me laughing so hard a few times last summer I wasn't sure if I was going to split my stitches or wet myself first. Who would think a bird with a brain smaller than a pea could provide so much enjoyment? The feed store didn't have any Auracanas so I'll be watching for them too. In addition to being good, their colored eggs crack me up. Ha, ha, ha! We don't have much green grass here, however I do spend probably too much time out on the deck just watching the chickens forage at the edge of the woods and out in the native grasses. I bet the rocks will look good together. One thing we noticed last year is that although the mixed breed flock mixed together well, if there is more than one chicken of any particular breed, those chickens will flock together within the larger flock. When they get too bold and venture down into the swale the coyotes start picking them off one or two at a time. When I see them headed that way just calling them and offering them some kitchen scraps or a piece of bread will get them back to foraging closer to the house. Chickens. Just too much fun! Gail

Wow, loving everyone's photos! I'll upload some after getting on the phone app. So far I have a bed of lettuce, tons of radishes, tomatoes just got put in the ground, and peppers and such going. Our Eva's Pride Peach is setting tons of fruit, and our Green Gage Plum and dwarf peach are also setting fruit now. So many plants back from the brink after years of drought, it's really something. Potatoes, raspberries and grapes all doing well, just busy terracing and trying to find room. A dove has taken nest in our grapefruit tree, which is overwhelmed with gorgeous blossoms. What a harvest it will be this year in our orchard. Just loving all the photos. So grateful for the rains we've had this year. The canyons in SD are extra green and lively right now in a way I haven't seen in so long.

Looking again the last time I was there at the one I planted on Camano at the moment the central point is actually something more like 2 ft. high and the main hanging drape of branches is more like 4 ft. long. If you have perennial weeds of much consequence you will have to clean them out before planting ground covers otherwise many of them may persist even after the planting fills in. Also you will want to choose ground-covering plants growing at least 2 ft. tall in order to minimize nuisance plants seeding into the planting even after it has been established for many years. For instance in my area red alder trees, more than one species of blackberry and giant morning glory (Calystegia) are examples of things that may often be seen to have come up through even quite dense ground covering plantings. If you are thinking you have to be able to dig organic material into your beds it is actually better to simply apply it as mulch - as Nature does. The main exception is when ground is being worked and amended before the planting of annual flowers and annual vegetables. But plantings of longer lived subjects should always consist of loosening the existing soil, planting in it without attempting to modify the texture with any additives and then mulching well immediately after planting. If an existing soil is thought completely unsuitable for a particular kind of woody or perennial plant then that soil needs to be replaced, rather than merely amended. As in digging out beds entirely and filling them with suitable soil, or placing layers (berms or mounds) or suitable soil on top of the existing soil. And planting in these added layers without blending them with the existing soil underneath. Which would defeat the purpose of bringing in different soil.