The last couple years I've been marveling at the rich bird and native bee and other insect populations at our California native plant-heavy yard. I've promoted native plants for home landscapes for years, giving local talks and harping on their benefits to anyone who will listen. In that vein, …
Upcoming Plant Sale so… Time to Plan what Natives to Buy
More and more people are seeking native plants from their local areas. Here in California, rising water costs and the desire for habitat gardens and the birds, butterflies and beneficial native bees they attract are primary drivers. Fall and winter are ideal planting times for native plants …
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Stories (and a few Lessons) from our Habitat Yard
As our California native plants grow and expand their footprint in our front and backyard, we’ve noticed increasing numbers of critters. They range from teensy millimeters-long bees to coyotes and foxes. Why are native plants in a habitat garden so important? Here’s a good Audbon article - …
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How to Not Kill Native Plants
We love them, we fear them, and some of us obsessively hover over them as we wonder if we're caring for them properly. Meanwhile, out in the wild native plants - in our case, California native plants - manage to establish themselves without any human intervention. What gives? What can we do to …
California Natives – Plant Sales!
Note: People in areas outside So CA, please check here for California native plant sales, and elsewhere, look up your state's native plant society. Plants native to your areas make the best habitat gardens, which usher in butterflies, birds and other vital critters. Fall is such a great time here …
Collecting Native Seed
Note: this info may also apply to non-natives but depends on the seed. Many California seeds typically last a long time, while certain edible plants may not last as long in storage. See the Seed Saver's Exchange for more info. My husband and I subscribe to the ‘if a native plant propagates, it …