May 3, 2008 - All Day
Native Cultures: Seri Indians of the Sonoran Desert... From the shorelines Sea of Cortez

Tree of Life is pleased to invite the Seri Indians back to our nursery to sell traditional handmade crafts of baskets, ironwood carvings and shell necklaces. This very special gathering is a great opportunity to learn more about the rich and unique culture of the Seri Indians. Information about the Seri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seri.




Download the flier and pass it on to others in the community who would like to join us for this exciting and unique event.

SeriPoster.pdf

Labels: Cultural Experience, Native American, Seri, Seri indians

This Saturday!

Saturday, April 12, 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop: Butterflies

Join us this Saturday as naturalist Richard James from the El Dorado Nature Center shares his extensive knowledge about butterflies and how to attract them to your garden. An avid collector, James will also bring caterpillars and cocoons. He will cover the life cycles of butterflies and highlight some of their favorite and tasty native plants. Come learn about these fascinating creatures and the plants they love!



Wild about Wildflowers

We are now at the height of wildflower season here at Tree of Life Nursery and all over California. If you can't get out to one of the many locations where wildflowers are blooming, come to the nursery to see our planted wildflowers and be sure to bring a camera! In addition to seeing these beautiful flowers here at the nursery you can also pick up one of the many books we carry that will help you find and identify wildflowers as you hike. We also carry locally produced wildflower honey, and of course, we have four-inch wildflower plants already started so you can enjoy their blooms at home.

For more information about where to see wildflowers in Southern California, we suggest visiting the Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline or calling: 818-768-3533, both are updated weekly with Wildflower Hot Spots.

*Note: All Tree of Life Workshops and Events are free of charge and do not require reservations unless otherwise noted. Just come out and participate!*

Next Month's Tree of Life Nursery Events:

May 3, 2008 - All Day
Native Cultures: Seri Indians of the Sonoran Desert... From the shorelines Sea of Cortez

Tree of Life is pleased to invite the Seri Indians back to our nursery to sell traditional handmade crafts of baskets, ironwood carvings and shell necklaces. This very special gathering is a great opportunity to learn more about the rich and unique culture of the Seri Indians. Information about the Seri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seri

May 10, 2008 (Day before Mother's Day!) - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop Series: Create-Your-Own Container
$20.00 fee/please register in advance

Just in time to bring your mother or make her a special gift! Join us as we introduce some of the basic principles for making attractive "Mini-Nature" pots and bring a piece of California into any size space by gardening in containers. After quick talk highlighting various flowering natives, you will have an opportunity to create a nature pot of your own for only $20.00. Please register in advance by calling the nursery.

Attention Los Angeles Customers!! May 17, 2008 - 12-3 pm
Tree of Life Nursery on the Road: Long Beach Water Department
Plant Sale in the Parking Lot

The City of Long Beach has enacted some pretty tough water rules on their residents and we've noticed many of you have made the switch to low-water use and habitat providing native plants to beautify your home landscapes. For just one day, we'll bring (a selection of the) nursery to you! Thanks to your friends at the LB Water Department we will be on the road selling plants in the parking lot May 17th. Tell your friends.

If you would like to make requests for plants you would like us to bring to the plant sale, you can email them. We will try to honor your requests, but the plant sale will be first come, first serve. Sorry, no special orders!

California Native Plant Garden Tours this April and May

April 12-13, 2008 - THIS WEEKEND!
Theodore Payne Native Garden Tour
Los Angeles County
Organized by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants
http://www.theodorepayne.org/Tour/tour.html

May 3, 2008
Spring Native Gardens Tour - Orange County
Organized by the OC - California Native Plant Society Chapter and Sea and Sage Chapter of Audubon
http://www.occnps.org
http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/

This Weekend and coming events at Tree of Life Nursery!

We hope to inspire you this spring into retro-fitting your water thirsty landscapes with authentic, habitat building, inspirational gardens. Come learn more about native plants, and get the tools to help you on your coming projects.


April 12, 2008
9:30 - Sage Advice Workshop: Butterflies!
Come learn about butterflies and the plants they love! Join butterfly expert Richard James, a naturalist who also teaches workshops at the El Dorado Nature Center. Find out about what plants are best for your garden, and exactly which butterflies you will be able to attract.


California Native Plants for Sale at Special Events this Spring

March 15, 2008
California Friendly Plant Sale - The Water Conservation Garden
El Cajon, San Diego County

April 5, 2008
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale
Claremont, Los Angeles County

April 19-20, 2008
Fullerton College, "Green Scene"
California Native Plant Society - Orange County Booth
Fullerton College, Orange County

April 24-27, 2008
Tree of Life Nursery and California Native Plant Society - Orange County
South Coast Plaza Garden Show
Costa Mesa, Orange County

----------- Past Events ------------

March 1, 2008 - All Day
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) San Diego Benefit Plant Sale
&
11:00 AM - Workshop: Backyard Habitats with Native Plants

Benefit Plant Sale
Help raise funds for the San Diego Chapter of CNPS. A portion of all plant sales from the day will go to CNPS-SD. Volunteers from the chapter will also be on hand to assist with planting suggestions and garden help. Come get lots of helpful information from knowledgeable volunteers and get started on your spring planting.

Workshop
Landscape Designer Connie Beck will be speaking about creating a "Backyard Habitat with Native Plants". Using her extensive experience at her own home, Connie will share practical tips about plant selection and designing gardens that are welcoming to both wildlife and people.

CNPS information about the event: http://cnpssd.org/2008springplantsale.html

March 8, 2008
9:30 - Sage Advice Workshop: TLC
Find out why a native landscape is highly efficient. With very little water and labor, hearty, diverse and beautiful native plants will thrive in your garden. Jeff Bohn will introduce some basic guidelines for long-term success in your native garden. Come learn what it takes to ensure that your native landscape will look good year round - just a little tender loving care.

Where have all the flowers gone? Get out to see them, or plant them at home...
It might be a little difficult to get really excited about planting wildflowers in your garden if you are unfamiliar with them, but now is a GREAT time to get them in! This year, at Tree of Life, we have wildflowers in 4" pots ready for sale. Come get them before they are blooming and plant them in your garden today! If you plant them now you will get to enjoy their lovely blooms all season long.

Get out and hike...

"I speculate that those who are not as crazy over California wildflowers haven't seen the remaining good places." -Judith Larner Lowry, The Landscaping Ideas of Jays: A Natural History of the Backyard Restoration Garden

Nature Hikes with your local Chapter of the California Native Plant Society!
Local CNPS chapters in your area are taking advantage of the favorable winter conditions this year and going to go look for some of our beautiful wildflowers and many other native plants. The benefit of going on one of these fieldtrips is that very knowledgeable people lead them! These hikes are an excellent resource, and there's sure to be something in your area.

Orange County Chapter
CNPS - Orange County Chapter has scheduled at least nine nature hikes this spring.
See their website and register for one of these hikes: www.occnps.org

Locations include: (to name a few!) Santiago Canyon, Santa Rosa Plateau, some in San Diego County, Crystal Cove, and a very special trip to a recent burn area in Orange County.

Los Angeles County Chapter
Information: www.lasmmcnps.org
Locations: Cold Creek Preserve, Malibu Canyon

San Diego County Chapter
Information: www.cnpssd.org
Locations: Anza Borrego State Park, and Tecolote Canyon

Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline
March through May
818-768-3533
http://www.theodorepayne.org/

Happy New Year!

We are thrilled to continue our Sage Advice Workshop Series with some not-to-be-missed topics this Spring at Tree of Life Nursery...

THIS SATURDAY!
January 12, 2008 - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop: Ceanothus

Join Co-Owners Mike Evans and Jeff Bohn as they explore the varied and beautiful genus: Ceanothus. This group of evergreen woody shrubs is full of diversity and known for its deep green foliage and vibrant flowers. Colors vary from deep purple, to bright blue, cobalt and some flowers are white. California Lilacs have much to offer in the California Garden. Mike and Jeff will go over what cultivars we have available as well as tips for successful planting and long-term maintenance.

February 9, 2008 - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop Series: Landscaping your slope with native plants.

"I have this slope..." is probably the most frequent introduction to a question we hear at Tree of Life Nursery. And we have lots of plant suggestions in answer! Come learn about some of our most outstanding performers in slope plantings. We acknowledge that every project poses unique challenges but don't worry, we'll show you the best plants to help you hold up your bank.

March 8, 2008 - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop Series: TLC

Find out how highly efficient a native landscape is, because with very little water or labor, hearty, diverse and beautiful native plants will thrive in your garden. Jeff Bohn will introduce some basic guidelines for long-term success in your native planting by implementing what every garden needs, just the right amount of maintenance. Come learn what it takes to ensure that your native landscape will look good year round - just a little tender loving care.

April 12, 2008 - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop Series: Butterflies

Come learn about butterflies and the plants they love! Join butterfly expert Richard James, a naturalist who also teaches workshops at the El Dorado Nature Center. Learn more about these beautiful and fascinating creatures, and exactly which butterflies you will be able to attract using the appropriate native host plants.


May 10, 2008 (Day before Mother's Day!) - 9:30 AM
Sage Advice Workshop Series: Create-Your-Own Container

Just in time to bring your mother or make her a special gift! Join us as we introduce some of the basic principles for making attractive "Mini-Nature" pots and bring a piece of California into any size space by gardening in containers. After an inspiring talk highlighting various flowering natives, you will have an opportunity to create a nature pot of your own for only $20.00. Please register in advance by calling the nursery.

Other Events at TOLN this Spring:

March 1, 2008 - ALL DAY
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) San Diego Chapter Benefit
Proceeds from the day's plant sales go toward CNPS San Diego, and plenty of knowledgeable volunteers from the chapter are available all day to assist with plant selection.

June 14, 2007 - Lunchtime
Join us our last Saturday in the season to bid our Saturday retail hours farewell with our yearly tradition of Mike's "There is a Free Lunch, Adios Amigos, Have a Nice Summer" Ranch Tacos. More details to come!

Wholesale Closed:
Monday 12/24 through Tuesday 1/1/08


Casa 'La Paz' OPEN for retail sales only:
Thursday 12/27
Friday 12/28
Saturday 12/29

November 17, 2007 - 11:00 AM
Sage Advice Workshop: The California Garden

California is a big place with many diverse plant communities and eco-systems; therefore the "California Garden" should mimic an outdoor experience. Engaging the senses, you can fill your garden with line, color, shape, touch and fragrance... all of which will recall the beauty of nature. You can design not just a home garden, but also, an oasis of authenticity, wherever you may be. Learn how to use, as a model, our greatest resource: Nature herself.





December 1, 2007 - 11 AM
Sage Advice Workshop: The Fragrant Native Garden

Get the finest in aromatherapy... California's native vegetation has more than a few plants with distinct aromas. From the lovely and useful White Sage, to the equally useful, but uniquely scented, Bladderpod (the name says it all!). Discover this diverse group of plants within the native plant community. They will add the unique element of scent and a sensual depth to your garden.













Wreath-Making with Native Plant Material
December 15, 2007, 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM (two sessions!)

Join Craftswoman Hilda Evans for the third year in a row for a special and fun event! We will teach you to make a festive and natural wreath using wild grape vines and many other native plant materials. All the plant material will be provided. Take home a natural wreath of your own making. Space is limited. Please register in advance by calling Tree of Life Nursery. The cost to participate is $20 with early registration, and $25 for walk-ins.


Holiday Hours:

Thursday 11/22/07 Thanksgiving, nursery closed
Friday 11/23/07 Casa 'La Paz' OPEN for retail sales. Wholesale closed.
Saturday 11/24/07 Casa 'La Paz' OPEN for retail sales.

Monday 12/24 thru Tuesday 1/1/08, Wholesale closed.
Thursday 12/27, Friday 12/28, Saturday 12/29 Casa 'La Paz' open for retail sales.