What is A Sage in Every Garden?

The California Native Plant Society Orange County chapter (OCCNPS) created A Sage in Every Garden to give away 2,000 four-inch California white sage plants (one per resident which supplies last) to Orange County homeowners beginning November 9, 2022.

When and where were the events?

1. November 9, 2022: OCCNPS Chapter meeting, 6:45 p.m., Norman P. Murray Community Center, Mission Viejo. 96 plants were given away.
2. November 12, 2022: Tree of Life Nursery Sage Festival.San Juan Capistrano, California. 96 plants were given away. This special day celebrated sage. Presenters, special exhibitors, and a food truck were featured all day during the Sage Festival.
3. November 19, 2022: The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano. 80 plants were given away.
4. November 20, 2022 through December 2022: Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar, 300 plants have been given away.
5. December 3, 2022: The Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton. 96 plants were given away.
6. January 21, 2023: Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, 92629. 112 plants were given away.
7. Saturday, January 21, 2023: Orange Home Grown Education Farm, 356 N. Lemon St., Orange, 92866. 96 plants were given away.
8. Saturday, January 28: Heritage Garden, Concordia University Campus, 1530 Concordia, Irvine, 92612. 10 a.m. 24 plants were given away.
9. Saturday, February 11: Environmental Nature Center, 1601 E. 16th St. Newport Beach, 92663. 10 a.m. 51 plants were given away.
10. Saturday, February 11,: Orange Home Grown Farmers Market, 303 W. Palm Avenue, Orange, 92866. 9 a.m. 48 plants were given away.
11. Wednesday, February 15: OCCNPS Chapter Meeting, Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo 92692, 7 p.m. 20 plants were given away.
12. Saturday, February 18: Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Dr., Dana Point, 92629. 10 a.m. Sponsored by the City of Dana Point. 98 plants were given away.
13. Sunday, February 19: Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 2845 Mesa Verde Dr. E., Costa Mesa, 92626. 10 a.m. until noon. 80 plants were given away.
14. January 2023 through February 2023: Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar. 700 plants have been given away. Program has ended at Roger’s Gardens.
15. March 4: Shipley Nature Center, 17851 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach. 96 plants were given away.
16. March 25: Flower Festival, Tree of Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano. 64 plants were given away.
17. April 15: Adventure Day Casper’s Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano. 64 plants were given away.

Why did OCCNPS create A Sage in Every Garden?

Installing California native plants in our home landscapes and public spaces helps birds, wildlife, and pollinators. OCCNPS‘ goals with A Sage in Every Garden are to increase nature-beneficial gardening in every neighborhood, to conserve water use in cities, and to protect white sage in public wildlands.

What is white sage?

White Sage (Salvia apiana) is native to Southern California and Northern Baja California. It grows nowhere else in the world. This silvery accent plant grows three feet wide by three feet tall and flowers from May through July. White sage is aromatic, easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant, and benefits wildlife and native bumble bees.

Is white sage endangered?

Burning white sage smudge sticks has become popularized in movies, television, and social media. People are burning sage bundles in the hope of purifying space and clearing bad energy. Instead of healing, the appropriated use of “sage smudging” is having a devastating impact on our environment. Today, poachers are stealing metric tons of this plant from the wild to supply worldwide demand. An award-winning documentary, Saging the World, spotlights the ecological and cultural issues intertwined with white sage, focusing on the voices of Native advocates who has long protected and cherished this plant. Saging the World is directed by Rose Ramirez, Deborah Small, and David Bryant.

Does OCCNPS have partners for the Sage in Every Garden campaign?

A Sage in Every Garden is paid for and supported by the small treasury of the OCCNPS nonprofit organization, and by volunteers who donate their time to help distribute the plants at events. The campaign is joined by Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar which will also be giving away 1,000 four-inch white sage plants at the nursery beginning in November 2022. The white sage giveaway is also supported in part by Sage Environmental Group.