The Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS) presents our monthly article featuring OCCNPS Board Member Jonathan Frank, team lead of the field trip committee.

Past: Can you share a formative native plant memory from your childhood?

“I wasn’t exposed to the world of native plants as a child, but one of my earliest memories of the magic world of plants was a simple thing- the tart scent of the tomato plants growing in our yard. That smell always brings me back to my childhood of growing some of our own food and being fascinated by it.

I started out volunteering in environmental restoration in the Santa Barbara area where I am proud to have worked with a dedicated crew trying to bring life back to forgotten places. I am also proud of my current contributions in documenting new populations of rare plants like the a new foothill location in Rancho Santa Margarita for chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana) as well as the bad Santa Maria feverfew (Parthenium hyterophorus) in Irvine.”

Jonathan Frank in Whiting Ranch

Present: What native-plant related ideas/projects are you working on right now?

“Right now I am helping lead the field trip committee for OCCNPS.”

Future: What are your goals for our chapter and/or the California native plant community at large?

“As a field trip coordinator, I hope to continue bringing the special world of native plants to people in the county who may have a general knowledge or appreciation of plants but who may not know about all of the special places we are lucky to have in our county to learn about and admire all of our local native plants, each of which has a story to tell us.”

Jonathan has been serving on the OCCNPS board for about a year. He lists Don Hartley and Karen Flagg of Santa Barbara’s Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute as mentors who shaped his interest in native plants. He said,

“They taught me the value of local native plants and how restoring even small patches of land can bring benefits in so many forms.”

Jonathan adds, “Always remember to keep your eyes open on even the most used trails since often amazing or important discoveries are right in front of you.”