So much native plant stuff going on in the fall that it makes my head spin. Native plant nurseries, botanic gardens and local chapters of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) all beef up their speaker programs and plant selection to encourage people to buy and plant now. I would like to call out the upcoming events at the two organizations that I am most involved in, CNPS – San Gabriel Mts. Chapter and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.
October 22 and 23
At Rancho’s westside nursery (Grow Native Nursery Westwood) there is going to be a delightful Garden Party on October 22 and 23 from 10 AM to 4 M. Speakers on Saturday include John Greenlee and Bart O’Brien. Emily Green and Lili Singer will speak on Sunday. Of course, there will be many great plants to purchase for your own garden as well. An event not to be missed!
November 5 and 6
Next is the big fall plant sale at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont. This is the biggest native plant sale around. This is the place to go to get really unusual stuff! In addition to the favorite garden natives, like Ray Hartman ceanothus and Howard McMinn manzanita, there are really bizarre things that you will not find elsewhere. The sale will be held on November 5 and 6. It runs from 11 am – 4 pm (members-only from 8 – 11 am) on Saturday, and 9 am – 2 pm on Sunday. The plant sale list is online, though you must register to access it… and, of course I lost my password so I haven’t seen it yet. 🙁
Happy news! I registered! The plant sale list is preliminary. Having worked for years on this list, I know it will end up being about 24 pages or more, though there are only 9 pages showing now. Still there are some pretty neat looking plants, like Smilacina racemosa var. amplexicaulis (MAIANTHEMUM) false Solomon’s seal. I remember seeing a whole lot of beautiful Winifred Gilman salvias while volunteering in the nursery last month. And a really special plant that you will have a hard time finding any other place… this is so good….Rosa “Schoener’s Nutkana’. But only 5 (five) one gallons!!
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| Growing in RSABG Cultivar Garden – this is a stunning plant. |
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| Rosa ‘Schoener’s Nutkana’ … sigh. |
November 12
And finally, the San Gabriel Mountains Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is having its plant sale on Saturday, November 12 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. This is more low-key than the Rancho sale but lots of fun. There will be members milling around just dying to tell you about their favorite native plants. Priced at $8 for a one gallon, this is an excellent place to get lots of the tried and true garden natives.
Of course I will be at all of the events. Hope to make the Grow Native Nursery Westwood event on Sunday (Oct. 23), the Rancho Fall Plant Sale on Saturday (Nov. 5), and the CNPS-SGM sale (Nov 12). Will I see any of you there?
What annual seed would you recommend for planting under an established pine tree and (here's the crazy idea) over St. Augustine grass? The grass is going to go dormant in November and I would like to create a meadow-like mass of one annual flower in Spring by seeding the grass with an annual that could grow through the St. Augustine grass and the shade of the pine tree, but eventually die
Rosalinda, yes I think it is a crazy idea. Not to say I haven't tried some crazy things myself. I don't think the wildflowers will grow through the dormant St. Augustine. Tough enough under pines, growing through a matted grass is probably way too difficult. <br /><br />Now, if you still want to give it a try and show a doubter like me that I am wrong, you need something that will grow in
Barbara, thanks for thinking about the shade! I will definitely try those annuals you mentioned except for Clarkia unguiculata because I know it grows outward toward the sun. I know because it is in the outer edge of the pine tree canopy and they grow so tall reaching out toward the sun. I'm going to poke the grass a "billion" times then add the seeds. I am going to give it a