This year the plant sales were early. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, which for years and years held its sale on the first weekend in November, jumped to the head of the line by holding a Fall Planting Festival a whole month earlier. The San Gabriel Mountains Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), […]
CNPS
Drought?
Summer was too short and way too busy. I spent most of it driving. Drove from LA to NYC, and back again. Then flew back east for another family gathering. This was followed by a backpacking trip in the Hoover Wilderness. Finally home, feeling exceedingly guilty about my carbon footprint. At home I ride my […]
10 Reasons Not to Miss Our Native Plant Sale
Our local chapter of the Calif. Native Plant Society (CNPS – San Gabriel Mts. Chap) is holding its annual native plant sale this Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. You will not want to miss this great sale because: 1. We will have over 1,800 plants, including more than 100 different kinds – all native to California […]
CNPS Native Plant Sale on Nov. 9
Toyon, also known asChristmas berry (Nov) Another toyon? A few more coral bells? California buckwheat? These are some of the plants that I think I need (as compared with what my husband thinks I need…) to fill out our rather heavily planted native plant garden. I am thinking about them because I’m busy ordering plants […]
Warning: For plant geeks only
Way back in 1993 a large, imposing and impressive book was published by UC Press. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California, edited by James Hickman, was a revision of Jepson’s 1925 Manual of the Flowering Plants of California. It became the go-to reference for all serious California native plant geeks. When there were disputes about the […]
Selecting healthy plants
There are many books, articles, and websites with tips on selecting healthy nursery plants. The lists usually include checking to be sure your new plant is pest-free, has healthy green leaves, an undamaged stem, and healthy roots. In short, it should look healthy. Native plants, however, often look different from the common garden center varieties. […]
Summer Color (that’s not brown)
There has been a very interesting discussion, Native Plant Stars of the Summer Doldrums, on the California Native Plants google group. As people were sending messages about what is blooming in their gardens, despite the long period without rain and with intense heat, it got me thinking about the plants I know that are colorful (flowers, fruit […]
CNPS-SGM Plant Sale – Sat., Nov. 10, 2012
Special Weather Statement: It’s hot, really hot! Hard to think about planting in the garden but that is exactly what I have been doing. I have been looking at plant lists to send in the order for the plant sale for our local chapter of the California Native Plant Sale (San Gabriel Mts Chapter – […]