Tag: gardening
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Indian Mallow: A Drought-Tolerant Desert Beauty
Abutilon palmeri, also known as Indian Mallow, is a semi-evergreen to evergreen subshrub with abundant golden blossoms. It thrives in full sun with occasional watering, and its silvery, velvety leaves and poppy-like flowers make it attractive to native solitary bees. This low-maintenance plant is native to the low Sonoran Desert and can be a stunning…
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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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California Coffeeberry: A Summer Garden Essential
Guest author Dan Songster discusses the benefits of the evergreen shrub Frangula californica, also known as California Coffeeberry, as a foundation plant during the hot summer months. Its adaptability, green foliage, and colorful berries make it a favorite for garden design and a valuable resource for butterflies.
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Discover the Beauty of Coast Live Oak Trees
The Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) is an evergreen tree native to California, thriving in various soil types and climates. Recognized for its beauty, it provides shade and sustains local wildlife. Despite threats like the Polyphagus Shot Hole Borer, it is increasingly planted in parks and community gardens across Orange County.
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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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Dudleya viscida: A Rare Southern California Treasure
This article, originally from the February 2022 OCCNPS newsletter, highlights the Dudleya viscida, a succulent found in rocky coastal areas. The author recounts a field trip to the Santa Ana Mountains where they encountered thriving Dudleya viscida plants. They discuss its cultivation and recommend it for rock gardens in mild climates. The article also references…
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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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Daphne Christle: Rewilding Urban Landscapes with Native Plants
Daphne Christle, Vice President of the OCCNPS, aims to enhance urban environments with California native plants through education and community outreach. Inspired by her father and activists like Julia Butterfly Hill, she focuses on community science. Her future goals emphasize biodiversity, education, and rewilding urban landscapes for healthier ecosystems.
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Native Plant of the Month: Bladderpod
Guest author Dan Songster submitted this article featuring an outstanding California native plant for May: This fast growing, densely-branching shrub routinely grows in a mounding habit, becoming about 3-6 feet tall and as wide. It produces abundant bright-yellow flower clusters at the ends of its stem branches. These showy flowers are about a half-inch to…
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If Money Were No Object, How Would You Grow Your Garden?
Learn about native gardeners’ dream gardens if money were no object.
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Systems Analyst Weaves Together Nature and Friends
Brad Jenkins, volunteer, webmaster, and part of the treasurer team of the California Native Plant Society Orange County Chapter (OCCNPS), is featured this month, and answers the question: What draws us to our relationships with nature and native plants? “Innate influences, happenstance encounters, analytical purposefulness, and social associations.“ Brad writes: “My first wedding was in…
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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…