Hello
Here's what you will find in this issue:
  • Fall '06 Events
  • Virtual Garden
    Tour
  • Soil 1-2-3!
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Notes from the field…
A ‘Virtual’ tour of some LA gardens!

On June 15, 2006, Mike and Debbie Evans visited a demonstration garden in Santa Monica called the Garden/garden. In 2004, two gardens were planted side by side by the City of Santa Monica and MWD on the campus of Santa Monica City College.   One of the gardens, landscaped entirely with California native plants and designed to capitalize on water retention and run-off reduction, demonstrates how attractive and efficient native plants can be in a landscaped setting.  Next to it is a ‘traditional’ garden, planted with a standard lawn and some shrubs.  This garden illustrates, by comparison, how inefficient water use can be in a traditional garden setting.  After seeing those two, we found a couple of other native gardens in the area.  See what we saw that day…  View our slideshow (virtual tour) of the gardens!

Read more >


The Basic 1-2-3 on Soils for Natives.

Sage Advice Fall 2006
“When dirt comes alive it is called soil”

A California soils map looks like a kid went crazy with colored pencils.  If it’s a named soil type, we have it.  And a rich flora to match!  Not to mention so many varied climate zones and wildlife species!

Diversity.  It’s what California is all about.  We’ve got the most of just about everything.

So why do we often hear the big question, “Which native plants will work in this or that soil?”  Natives should do really well in just about any soil, right?  Right.  Problem is that usually the person asking the big question is staring down at sub-soil… leftovers from some huge grading project… the inside of a hill, now exposed on the surface.  It’s really a “non-soil” problem, that is, the problem is that it’s not soil.  Real topsoil will support native plants, (and other plants) just fine.  In fact, a good indicator for a healthy soil is the presence of healthy plants including weeds.  If your vacant yard or jobsite is barren, no weeds, you may have a soil (or a non-soil) problem.  Do you want healthy native plants, even in poor or in “non” soil?

 For a basic rundown on California plants and the soils they grow in click here >


Coming Soon! Great Events for Fall 2006

This September, local chapters of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) throughout the Southern California region are giving you tools and opportunities to learn about landscaping with native plants.

Several talks highlighting California native plants are taking place, and one of them is bound to be somewhere near you!  Here is a listing of some of the exciting engagements to attend this coming month. For a full description of these events, click here.


“Care and Maintenance of Southern California Native Plants”
Speaker: Betsey Landis, Co-Author
September 12, 2006 7:30 - 9:30pm
First United Methodist Church
Santa Monica

CNPS Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter -
http://www.lacnps.org/

Betsey will discuss the best methods for establishing and maintaining a healthy native plant garden as described in her new book “Care and Maintenance of Southern California Native Plants”. Bring your questions!

“Lashbrook Park Case Study: Landscaping with Natives”
Speaker: Bob Perry, Perry and Associates
September 19, 2006
Casa Del Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego

CNPS San Diego Chapter -
http://www.cnpssd.org/

The design and planting of Lashbrook Park follows the Los Angeles River Master Plan Landscaping Guidelines. Bob Perry was the principal designer of the native plant associations and irrigation systems.

“Ceanothus and Friends: California Lilacs and other Colorful Natives for your Garden!”
Book Signing and Talk with Dave Fross, Co-Author of Ceanothus.
September 21, 2006
Irvine Ranch Water District
Irvine

CNPS Orange County Chapter – http://www.occnps.org/

If you have ever had a question about Ceanothus, wonder how to better use these strikingly lovely plants in your landscape design, or just plain love the color blue in your garden, then DON’T MISS THIS TALK!

PLANT SALES!!!

California Native Plant Sale!
UCI Arboretum, Irvine

  • Sponsored by the Orange County Chapter of CNPS –
    http://www.occnps.org

  • • native plants for all situations • experts on hand to assist with selection • free parking •

  • Saturday September 30, 2006
    10AM – 3PM
    UCI Arboretum is at the corner of Campus and Jamboree

 

Native Plant Sale
Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Beach

  • Sponsored by Friends of Shipley Nature Center -
    http://www.fsnc.org

  • • native plants from TOLN • advice from master gardeners • complimentary shuttle service •

  • Saturday October 7, 2006
    9AM – 1 PM
    Shipley Nature Center – For details call: 714-842-4772

Don’t Forget! Tree of Life Nursery will be open to the public on Saturdays beginning October 7, 2006.  See you soon!


For full Fall 06 event details, click here>

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