Construction entrance payne dropped pin4/29/2024 ![]() The tour is a self-guided journey through 41 inspiring gardens that show native plants existing in harmony with our local wildlife, soil, and climate. On April 2 and April 3, 2016, the Theodore Payne Foundation is hosting their annual Native Plant Garden Tour in Greater Los Angeles. If you’ve been pondering how to make your garden more pollinator-friendly as well as wallet-friendly, consider putting in native plants. ![]() One can have a cottage garden or a contemporary garden full of native plants that require a minimum of maintenance. But when I started gardening, and volunteering at our local park, and learning about the incredible array of native plants from the Theodore Payne Foundation, I realized that native plants come in every color, texture, form, and aroma, from the brilliant orange blooms of our beloved California poppy to the fragrant purplish-blue flowers of California lilac. I’d hike our brown hills in summer and see grasses and sages in a spectrum of khaki, with the occasional pop of color from the wildflowers. I’ll be honest: I used to think native plants equaled brown and bland. Most importantly for California, native plants use up to 80 percent less water than conventional gardens once they’re established.Īs we’re firmly entrenched in drought, that makes a strong case for not filling your landscape with water-intensive flora… or rocks, for that matter. In fact, certain species of birds and butterflies endemic to the state survive solely on our native plants. They flourish in our native soils without fertilizers and other soil amendments, they have fewer pest problems because they’ve co-evolved with native insects, and they supply our native birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators with food and shelter. In California, it’s estimated that over 6,300 native species exist - each one specially acclimated to the state’s diverse topographies, climates, and soils.īecause of this, native plants fall into a natural rhythm with our seasonal cycles. Native plants are species that are indigenous to the region they may have occurred naturally for hundreds of years, or they may have adapted over time to the climate. Then there are native plants, which are often overlooked but starting to gain popularity in our drought-prone gardens. When we think of gardens, we typically think of all the colorful annuals that fill flower beds every spring. But plants need water, so we’re caught in a catch-22. Rocks, while water-conscious, do nothing to support the local ecosystem that depends on plants for food and habitat. ![]() And so it looks like California will be heading into its fifth year of drought.įor Angelenos, keeping a garden green has been a challenge these last few years, but it’s even more disheartening to see people rip up their lawns, only to replace them with a rocky landscape. We’ve had rain, but not as much as the weather models predicted. In spite of all the hype surrounding El Niño this winter ( Godzilla El Niño, no less), it’s been a disappointing season for Los Angeles weather-wise.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |