Native Gardener’s Corner-Member’s Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Guest author Dan Songster gathered these responses from chapter members and local experts about their thoughts in answer to the question:

“With a world that may sometimes be disappointing and discouraging, how does your native garden bring you some peace of mind?”

Lori Reznick-“My native garden brings me peace of mind every year when the marine blue butterflies, Leptotes marina, return and find my coastal buckwheat, Eriogonum parvifolium. 

Also, removing invasive plants from sections of the restored natural area of the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area brings me peace of mind. I may not have a big impact on the world at large, but on these 29 acres, I’m helping the Nuttall’s snapdragon, Antirrhinum nuttallianum, and other natives thrive.”

Leon Baginski-“Nature is our teacher, health coach, and best friend. Native plants attract insects and birds creating a wilderness experience in my yard so I can learn, gather my health, and hang out with my besties.”

Robin Huber-“Working in my garden is better than any pill, smoke, or beverage when it comes to putting things into perspective. The timelessness of plants, their always being in the moment, and my being inexorably pulled into their world as I work is what does it. Their tight integration to the seasons gives me great solace by reminding me that we are all, plants and animals, locked together, fulfilling our purposes, our various species moving forward in time thanks to each of us playing our parts.” 

Laura Camp-“I believe we all can find solace in nature, and our knowledge of our native plants allows us to have a deep and appreciative relationship with our gardens. Let us plant a tree or a shrub in 2025 that will thrive in years to come and bring habitat to our world.”

Susan Krzywicki-“Bringing a bit of my garden from chaos to order seems to act as a mind-calmer. ‘Chaos’ means this area has been overlooked for anything ranging from months to decades!”

Rama Nayeri-“My only gardening space is a 100 square feet pad of concrete, so I have pots of natives and some pots of herbs. What puts a smile on my face is when I see hummingbirds and even wasps hanging out in my container garden.  I love knowing that even though I have a small garden, I can still provide some beneficial habitat for the local wildlife.”

Amy Litton-“Throughout the day, birds come to forage, drink, or enjoy cover in a shrub or tree. I encounter lizards in so many places – if I’m lucky I’ll see more than one at a time! Various types of bees and so many insects, and more species of spiders than I can count, pass through or dwell in the garden–all bring smiles and laughter. The garden is a refuge for me and for wildlife, and for our dog Shado, too. That’s how it should always be!”

Alan Lindsay-“I get satisfaction from seeing how my plants change as they mature. Also, I love how the birds, insects, and lizards interact with my garden. Watching what goes on in this environment is relaxing and brings a smile to my face.”

Mark Sugars-“If you plant it, they will come,” I frequently tell clients and volunteers; ‘it’ being locally native plants and ‘they’ being the native animals that depend on them. My own yard has always attracted the usual lizards and pollinators, and various finches when the Hairy Hooker’s Evening Primrose has gone to seed, and that’s all been well and good.  Last year I was delighted to see for the first time, a pair of hummingbirds build their nest in the big Rhus integrifolia that sprouted in front of my house back in 2012. They raised their brood in it.”

Dan Songster-“When I am in the garden either at home or at Golden West College Native Garden, I normally don’t dwell on outside issues (or at least not for long). I focus on the many chores to be done now and in the future. Winter pruning is my favorite work, but even weeding can be satisfying. Of course, I take the time to notice and appreciate the colors, fragrances, spring green, and especially the birds and butterflies too.”

Note from Dan: OCCNPS field trips are a good way to connect with kind people and are a wonderful way to lower stress for many reasons. It doesn’t get any better than spending time outdoors with friends, learning, and experiencing nature together in all of its wonders.

At Golden West College Native Garden, the coffee break is an especially good time to discuss (or ignore) the world’s problems if only for a short time. While our conversations are often centered on the mysteries and revelations of our native plant world, we also consider the Great Course lecture Alan has watched, and specific birds that Bob has seen lately. We discuss Dori’s latest report about travel and Jake’s pruning advice from various authors in various countries.

Being linked to others socially, especially in-person, can help us know we are not alone. I encourage you to participate in as many interesting conversations as you can arrange. It is too easy to be alone with a routine that does not involve others.

Our question for the coming March/April 2025 newsletter is:

“When designing an area for privacy, what native plants would you choose for a screen/hedge?”

Email your responses to Dan Songster at songster@cox.net. Please attempt to keep replies brief so we can include most of the responses.