Hi Rob, You have a very popular Field Sedge or Meadow Sedge. It's proper Latin name is Carex praegracilis, and it's proper common name is California Field Sedge. Here's what San Marcos Growers (one of the best out there) has to say: "Carex praegracilis (California Field Sedge) - A short, rich green sedge selected by John Greenlee as an alternative to turf grass. Growing to 6-8 inches tall and spreading by rhizomes to form a carpet that tolerates moderate foot traffic. A good plant as a solid ground cover, between and around stepping stones or mixed with other bulbs, perennials and grasses to create a natural meadow look. It tolerates full sun to partial shade but has a period of summer dormancy in warmer, drier climates. Moderate water requirements make this plant not quite drought tolerant but certainly lower than most lawn grasses. It is hardy to at least 10 F and likely to come back from the underground rhizomes after lower temperatures. We received this sedge from John Greenlee as Carex pansa but later was keyed to the very closely related Carex praegracilis. We listed it as Carex praegracilis with the common name of California Field Sedge in our 2001 and 2002 catalogs but unfortunately the plant had become popularized in the California horticultural trade under the name Carex pansa and we reluctantly began listing this plant as such. In an article in the summer 2006 issue of Pacific Horticulture titled "A Sedge By Another Name" the authors urge growers to correctly identify this sedge as Carex praegracilis and to use the common name Clustered Field Sedge instead of Meadow Sedge, which may be confused with an eastern U.S. species. We have decided to return to listing it as Carex praegracilis - California Field Sedge with the designation [C. pansa, Hort.] to indicate that is has been previously listed incorrectly by this name." You can mow this Carex with a lawnmower, and it will respond with a flush of fresh growth, but it does have the summer dormancy mentioned by San Marcos. The best way to water it is the same way you would water a normal turfgrass lawn. Long deep periods of sprinkling, every few weeks during your dry season.

I can't begin to count the number of summers I spent at the boardwalk, loved those days. I'm from the bay area and every summer my family would rent a house on the beach in Aptos, everynight we would go to the boardwalk. They make the best corn dogs and of course the fresh salt water taffy is a must. That is also where I began my Skee ball obsession lol

It's very close -- maybe 7-8 miles as the crow flies, but the trajectory is south, not east/northeast towards me -- a couple of ridges and a creek and a river and a couple of "major" local two-lane highway (Hwy 9, 236) also break the path. Basically, if the fire gets to Boulder Creek and me, half the town will be gone. I can't see that happening, at least not tonight or tomorrow. A remote smaller fire last year just over the ridge, which did not get widely reported, had me more in a tizzy about evacuating...I had the cat carriers out, fire safe in the car, important files in the car, and a gym bag with a couple changes of clothes, as well as a few things for the cats (litter, food, etc.), and a few things for me as well. Not that it would make much difference because my house is at the peak of a canyon/creek "chimney", I did have quite a bit of fire break/ tree clearing done once I kicked the soon-to-be-ex-not-so-DH outta here. He would never do it since he prunes trees for a living and didn't want to "sacrifice" trees at home as well. 'Nuff said... Here's a current fire map, with a little yellow dot at the top right/center showing approximately where I am.

I've never seen one of these espaliered, although that does not mean it cannot be. They really prefer to be growing very near the coast. Inland they will often look ratty unless they get some light shade during the hottest parts of the day. Being next to a heat reflective driveway, and having less self-shading due to being espaliered might make growing them trickier if yours is an inland garden. I have always loved the look of their foliage, but sadly, have never lived in an area where they would be happy to grow.