Tree of Life Featured on NPR

On May 15, 2006 environmental reporter Ilsa Setziol from 89.3, KPCC featured Tree of Life Nursery in a four-minute long segment on National Public Radio. Tree of Life Nursery is pleased to have been selected as one the candidates to be featured in this recent five part series about ‘environmentally friendly’ businesses.

Ilsa visited the nursery on a bright, sunny, perfect spring day and spent an hour speaking with Mike Evans, one of the nursery’s co-owners, about native plants and the positive environmental impact the use of native plants can make. Please take a moment, (well, more like four minutes!).

Listen to the interview >

Native plant enthusiasts such as you are very familiar with the summertime cautions – planting and watering in the summer must be approached sparingly and with great care. If you need a refresher on the details, please view our “Sage Advice” “Summer Water” and "How to Water Your Native Plants”

Since planting and watering are so minimal in the summer, what have you left to do? Summertime is the perfect time to make plans for plants. You might be starting your garden from scratch, planning another corner of your yard, or just inserting that one perfect plant into the perfect space. Good planning now will mean efficiency in the fall, before the pressure of the winter holidays!

Here is a handy summertime to-do list:

• Complete your hardscape, or make a perfect mound
  
• Research your soil and plan soil amendments
  
• Plan and design your dry streambed, bird sanctuary, or chaparral mini-habitat
  
• Research and discover more native plants by getting out and hiking!
  
• Plan a weekend and visit Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden or Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
  
• Stock up on (and read!) California landscape books, like California Native Plants for the Garden

Check out useful websites, such as:

• MWD’s: http://bewaterwise.com for landscape planning help, or
  
• Michael Charter’s CalFlora.net: http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/index2.html to see lots of native plant pictures (almost as good as getting out and hiking!), or
• Our website http://CaliforniaNativePlants.com
• Visit us! We’re still open Thursdays and Fridays to the public throughout the summer.

Our native plants are available for you to learn about or buy year-round. Our staff is very knowledgeable and would be glad to help with ideas or review of a landscape plan. In ‘Casa La Paz’ at Tree of Life, we carry hundreds of helpful books, all specifically related to California plants and climate.

All work aside, a good garden must be contemplated and appreciated! Spend some time in your garden, hopefully with your feet up and a cool drink nearby. Enjoy the birds and butterflies, and contemplate the enhancements you can make in the future.

Have a great summer!