Articles for California Native Plants

The Mountain fire torched his nursery and avocados, but it didn’t kill his irises or spirit
3 weeks, 2 days ago

The Mountain fire torched his nursery and avocados, but it didn’t kill his irises or spirit

LA Times  

I’m not going to end 2024 by muttering, “How can it be December? The Greenwood Daylily Nursery’s sheltered sales area last spring, before the Mountain fire, with its old wooden barn floor surrounded by blooming irises and other flowering perennials. eventbrite.com Dec. 13 Wreath Making With California Native Plants, a hands-on workshop from 2 to 4:30 p.m. taught by Maryanne …

Plants California Mountain Members Register Plant Native
We need more street shade in L.A. Why aren’t we planting native trees?
2 months, 3 weeks ago

We need more street shade in L.A. Why aren’t we planting native trees?

LA Times  

• Native trees should grow easily in Southern California, so why are so few of our street trees California natives? Furthermore, Southern California doesn’t have a deep bench when it comes to native trees, said Tim Becker, horticulture director for the Theodore Payne Foundation, one of the region’s premiere native plant and seed nurseries. arboretum.org A farmer plants young seedlings …

Plants California Trees Members Tree Street Los Angeles Times
L.A. is too ugly now to host the Olympics. Here’s how we can fix it before 2028
4 months, 2 weeks ago

L.A. is too ugly now to host the Olympics. Here’s how we can fix it before 2028

LA Times  

If you overlook the polluted Seine, Paris looks so pretty on TV, so quintessentially Parisian, that it raises the question: How will Los Angeles compare when it hosts the 2028 Olympics? Otherwise, our international guests might notice that L.A.’s public landscapes are embarrassing, “with horribly topped trees, artificial grass and really drab plants,” said Evan Meyer, executive director of the …

Olympics Plants California Trees Los Angeles Plant Native
Want a landscape that will outlast climate change? Plant these Ice Age survivors
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Want a landscape that will outlast climate change? Plant these Ice Age survivors

LA Times  

I know it’s hot, but wasn’t it just last month we were grumbling about the gloom? July 9 Storytime in the Garden!, a free, read-aloud summer series of curated children’s books about nature and plants geared toward grade schoolers and their parents that includes a sensory walk for all ages through the Theodore Payne Foundation’s gardens in Sun Valley from …

Climate Change Gardening Change Climate Plants Age Ice
Why do Los Angeles yards have so many fruit trees?
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Why do Los Angeles yards have so many fruit trees?

LA Times  

Welcome to June, the official start of summer, no matter what SoCal’s chilly, gloomy skies have been telling us these past few weeks. “These new subdivisions were given names that were evocative of orchards and food production, and the developers would often put a tree or two in the backyards.” Plus, Surls said, “Angelenos love gardening, so they planted more …

Plants Fruit California Trees Los Angeles Los Angeles
Desert farmers share their best tips on how to grow food in hot, dry conditions
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Desert farmers share their best tips on how to grow food in hot, dry conditions

LA Times  

Farm manager Josh Nash adjusts loose-weave jute netting over tender vegetable seedlings to protect them from the afternoon heat at 29 Palms Inn’s Faultline Farm in Twentynine Palms. Gilmer wrote a book about dry, hot farming in 2015 and Nash, a native Tennessean who learned about farming on the East Coast, has been growing organic fruit and vegetables in the …

Food Plants Hot Fruit California Los Angeles
Why aren’t wildflowers bursting everywhere? Don’t expect a superbloom
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Why aren’t wildflowers bursting everywhere? Don’t expect a superbloom

LA Times  

We have lots of plant-related activities to tell you about this month, but first, a few words about California’s favorite blooms: They’re late. L.A. Times Plants is doing its bit on April 20-21 by partnering with the Theodore Payne Foundation and the California Native Plant Society to promote native plants at booth 404 at the L.A. Times’ annual Festival of …

Plants Japanese California Angeles Los Angeles Free Plant
18 native plants that’ll turn your yard into a grass-free wonderland
1 year, 2 months ago

18 native plants that’ll turn your yard into a grass-free wonderland

LA Times  

Hummingbird sage is one of the most fragrant — and popular — California native plant ground covers. The California Botanic Garden, California’s largest botanic garden devoted to native plants, reopens its Grow Native Nursery on Oct. 14. Oct. 6 Comprehensive Irrigation for California Native Plants, a workshop taught by Theodore Payne Foundation Director of Horticulture Tim Becker, 9 a.m. to …

Plants California Free Plant Native Point Garden
Should we pick tomatoes when they’re green?
1 year, 3 months ago

Should we pick tomatoes when they’re green?

LA Times  

Somehow it’s almost fall, and I have a long list of plant-related activities and upcoming events below. turningpointfoundation.org Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Nursery native plant sales, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days; at the George F. Canyon Nature Center in Rolling Hills Estates on Sept. 9 and the White Point Nature Education Center in San Pedro on Sept. …

Plants Online Green California Orange County Members Bell
He wanted a ‘low-water, colorful, smell-good garden.’ But first, the lawn had to go
1 year, 5 months ago

He wanted a ‘low-water, colorful, smell-good garden.’ But first, the lawn had to go

LA Times  

Lawns are symbols of Los Angeles’ past. During this year’s record rainfall, Bautista was delighted to see that the swale he installed handled the overflow water “like a champ.” Regarding landscape design and plant selection, Bautista relied on the California Native Plant Society’s Calscape website and the Waterwise Garden Planner for Southern California as guides. “I feel like I’m doing …

Lawn Water Plants Indian Angeles Los Angeles Plant
Tax dollars made this enticing native plant habitat. Why can’t we get inside?
1 year, 5 months ago

Tax dollars made this enticing native plant habitat. Why can’t we get inside?

LA Times  

Annette Mercer, president of the Westwood Neighborhood Greenway, carries a bucket for weeding along the stretch of native habitat between Overland Avenue and Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles, alongside the Exposition rail line. July 6 & 18 “Home Composting — Garden Gold from Kitchen & Garden Waste,” is a free class taught by master gardener Yvonne Savio, creator of the …

Plants City California Los Angeles Los Angeles Free
Is it OK to plant in mud? The best tips for gardening in super-soaked L.A.
1 year, 8 months ago

Is it OK to plant in mud? The best tips for gardening in super-soaked L.A.

LA Times  

Here’s a tip for new SoCal gardeners or old-timers who need a refresher because, you know, it’s been awhile since water came pouring out of the sky: Stay out of the mud. conejovalleyaudubon.org April 6 Native Plant Propagation: Preparing and rooting native plant cuttings is a free, hands on class for volunteers to learn the basics about propagating California native …

Water Sale Plants Soil Orange County Free Plant
10 plant gurus on how they’ll experiment in SoCal gardens in 2023
1 year, 11 months ago

10 plant gurus on how they’ll experiment in SoCal gardens in 2023

LA Times  

In case you totally tuned out during the holidays and haven’t heard, Southern California water agencies have already declared a drought emergency for 2023, so expect another tight year for irrigating gardens and lawns. huntington.org Propagating California native plants from seed is a hands-on workshop taught by horticulturist Alejandro Lemus from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Theodore Payne Foundation, …

Water Plants Foundation California Los Angeles Members 2023
Native plants are bringing new life to L.A.’s ravaged areas. Here’s how to help
2 years ago

Native plants are bringing new life to L.A.’s ravaged areas. Here’s how to help

LA Times  

‘Tis the season for restoration, right? missionviejo.perfectmind.com Dec. 2 California Native Seed-Starting Workshop, a hands-on course taught by Tim Becker, the Theodore Payne Foundation’s horticulture director, 10 a.m. to noon at the foundation headquarters, 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. theodorepayne.org Dec. 2 and 9 Propagating California Native Plants, a two-hour, hands-on course taught by Tim Becker, the Theodore Payne …

Life Plants Volunteers Foundation California State Los
Native voices were finally heard at California’s biggest native plant conference
2 years, 1 month ago

Native voices were finally heard at California’s biggest native plant conference

LA Times  

Something’s happened in the four years since the California Native Plant Society — CNPS — had its last statewide conference. “Colonialism caused us to see our relatives as resources for exploitation.” This struggle between Indigenous and European perspectives came up repeatedly during the conference, even during its $80-a-plate celebration dinner with a menu created by the Chia Café Collective, an …

Community Natural Resources Plants Land Indigenous California Los Angeles
Why L.A. needs more micro forests (and how to plant your own)
2 years, 4 months ago

Why L.A. needs more micro forests (and how to plant your own)

LA Times  

If we’re trying to really fight climate change and mass extinctions, the whole natural world needs to be part of the conversation, especially in urban areas, says native plant horticulturist Katherine Pakradouni. That’s where her concept of micro forests comes in — plots of land as small as 10 by 10 feet devoted to dense, multilayer plantings of Indigenous shrubs …

Plants California Forest County Orange County Free Plant
Her stylish gardens are filled with native plants. Come visit one in South L.A.
2 years, 9 months ago

Her stylish gardens are filled with native plants. Come visit one in South L.A.

LA Times  

This is the latest in a series we call Plant PPL, where we interview people of color in the plant world. Brandy Williams’ business is landscape design, but it’s more accurate to think of her as an artist who paints for pollinators, primarily with succulents and what she calls “California friendly” plants. Brandy Williams’ garden is a dense mix of …

Plants Mediterranean California South Los Angeles Los Angeles
The plant person’s guide to the best holiday gifts
4 years, 1 month ago

The plant person’s guide to the best holiday gifts

LA Times  

Gardeners and plant people are fun to shop for, because the options are so wide. $39.95 | 👉 Purchase here Theodore Payne’s California poppy face mask Rollicking orange poppies cover this handsome mask, allowing fans of California native plants to show off their passion while supporting the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, one of the premiere …

Plants Los Angeles Plant Garden Payne California Native Purchase
Your garden needs soil amendments. Here’s where pros suggest you buy them
4 years, 2 months ago

Your garden needs soil amendments. Here’s where pros suggest you buy them

LA Times  

We asked the pros: Where do you shop? figearthsupply.com Glendora Garden Nursery, 1132 S. Grand Ave., Glendora, is fun for strolling, with its 10 acres of koi ponds plus waterwise plants, bagged and bulk soils, fruit trees, berries, veggies, succulents and houseplants. The full-service nursery sells gardening tools, soils and containers as well as trees, shrubs, California native plants, succulents, …

Plants Fruit California Trees Los Angeles Soil Garden
California Botanic Garden is a feast (including ice cream!) for all our senses
4 years, 5 months ago

California Botanic Garden is a feast (including ice cream!) for all our senses

LA Times  

California Botanic Garden is the new name for the state’s largest garden of California native plants, 86 acres near the Claremont Colleges of more than 1,200 native species, including redwoods and manzanitas, buckwheats, Joshua trees and about a jillion sages, many of which are blooming now. How about three: Coyote Mint Chip ice cream, Coastal Sage Yum ice cream and …

Plants Cream Native Garden Huntington Native Plants Gardens