Village Corner: September 2015

By Rich Didday

CVRA Neighbors’ Summer Party

This year’s CVRA Summer Party on August 16 was a great opportunity for Capitolans to meet and greet their neighbors.

If you’d like to come next year, and you’re not already a member of the Capitola Village Residents’ Association, please send an email to CapitolaCVRA@gmail.com, with “Join” in the subject line. Browse to www.capitolaCVRA.org to learn more.

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Naked Ladies Spotted in Capitola

Naked Ladies (Amaryllis belladonna) produce a cascade of green leaves in the spring that die back by mid-summer. In late summer, striking singleton leafless stems produce elegant flowers on tall stalks. Originally from South Africa but having gone through years of refinement, Naked Ladies (aka Pink Ladies) are a drought tolerant local favorite.

Not only do they need little if any water, they are easy to propagate (if you’re patient). After the flowers are done, packets of large pea-sized translucent seeds are left. These can be scattered or lightly covered with dirt, but regardless, take multiple years to appear as new plants.

Warning: all parts, including the seeds, of the Amaryllis belladonna are mildly poisonous.