Category: Buckwheat
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Tracey Daschbach: A Journey with California Native Plants
Tracey Daschbach, member-at-large of the California Native Plant Society Orange County Chapter (OCCNPS), is featured in today’s article compiled by Thea Gavin. A person of many talents (software engineer, full-time parent, Braille Institute librarian, UCI Herbarium volunteer, nature-inspired textile artist), Tracey shares her skills with our chapter in many areas: E-newsletter lead, plant sales, A…
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Best Evergreen Native Plants for Summer Gardens
This column features local experts sharing their favorite native plants that remain green during hot, dry summers. Suggestions include wooly blue curls, coast live oaks, ceanothus, and coffeeberry. Readers are invited to share tips for successful planting of native plants in the upcoming newsletter.
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Irina Ensminger: Embracing California Native Plants
Irina Ensminger, a new member of the OCCNPS Board, has embraced a leadership role in the Garden Tour Team, showcasing a passion for California native plants. Reflecting on her past experiences in the Ural Mountains, she now shares her love for Southern California’s diverse landscapes. With plans for a native plant and edible garden, she…
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April’s Plant of the Month: Saffron Buckwheat
What: Eriogonum crocatum – Saffron Buckwheat Dan Songster shares his native plant expertise with this article featuring a California Native Plant of the Month. April’s featured plant is Saffron Buckwheat (Eriogonum crocatum). Saffron buckwheat is lovely whether in flower or not. A colorful, compact mounding shrub to 1 1/2 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide…
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California in My Garden Tour Coming to Orange County
The California Native Plant Society Orange County Chapter (OCCNPS) is hosting a two-day garden tour featuring 22 gardens that are at least 50 percent California native plants. This is your chance to view public and private gardens that feature California native plants in landscapes in North and South Orange County. When you take the tour,…
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Exploring Native Plant Conservation with Sunny Saroa
Sunny Saroa, a dedicated member of the California Native Plant Society Orange County Chapter, shares his journey in conservation, his current involvement in various projects like vegetation surveys and grant selection, and his aspirations for broader community engagement and multilingual resources. His advice emphasizes the importance of sourcing locally for native plants, encouraging curiosity, and…
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Tending the Native Garden
Dan Songster of the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS) contributed this article for the March/April Native Gardener’s Corner-Member’s Tips, Tricks, and Techniques. Tips and Tricks offers chapter members and local experts a chance to share information on the many things related to gardening with native plants. This month’s request was: …
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Dreamy Native Plants
Our rain totals in Southern California have already exceeded the average 14 inches per rainy season. As I write, two more inches of rain has fallen with more to come. It is an understatement to say that our native plants are thriving. This is great news for the wildlife, birds, and pollinators that depend on…
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Native Gardener’s Corner
Member’s Tips, Tricks, and Techniques Guest Author Dan Songster offers chapter members and local experts a chance to share information related to gardening with natives. The question for the June/July 2023 edition of the OCCNPS Newsletter was: Our native gardens are often inspired by nature. What is your favorite place/destination to experience and be inspired…
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OCCNPS Past, Present & Future: Insights from Board Members
Guest Article by Thea Gavin The Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS) presents a Q and A that will highlight our Board Members’ experiences and knowledge. We begin this monthly series with an interview arranged by Thea Gavin that features Dan Songster, long-time volunteer and past president of OCCNPS. Dan Songster…
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Rainfall and Fallen Leaves
Here in California, we have been experiencing rain so abundant that the ground is saturated, causing flooding. In the image below, rain is shunted off of homes and hardscape toward the street, which then channels the rainwater into a storm drain that sends it to the ocean. Thankfully, some of the rain falls on natural…
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More Fab Front-Yard Natives
Let’s explore a few more “front-yard” California natives that are HOA-approved, evergreen, and are pleasing to the eye no matter what the season. The California lilac (Ceanothus sp.) is a must-have native plant for every front landscape. This gorgeous shrub blooms in the spring with soft, fragrant flowers. When not in bloom, the shrub has…