Tag: native plants
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Saying Good Bye to a Billion Birds
Did you know that in 2016, North America had more than a billion fewer breeding birds than 40 years ago? What is contributing to the decline in bird populations? Scientist Doug Tallamy has discovered that when non-native ornamental plants are installed in the landscape, insect populations plummet because insects are co-evolved to feed from native plant…
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Growing Buckwheat in the Garden
When cooler winter temperatures arrive in Southern California, residents wear sweaters and scarves to stay cozy. Buckwheat changes in the winter too, as the creamy white flowers turn a reddish brown when the flowers go to seed. The ‘Dana Point’ buckwheat has a compact nature suitable for the home garden and is fairly easy to…
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More Buckwheat, More Butterflies
When you plant California buckwheat in your home landscape, you bring immediate relief to butterflies and other pollinators searching for nectar and shelter. California buckwheats flower for months, enrich the soil with their tiny leaves, are easy to grow, and are evergreen. Buckwheat is a foundation plant for any garden. The California Native Plant Society…
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Buckwheat Builds Soil
California buckwheat is an evergreen plant with small leaves that occasionally drop to the ground, forming a natural mulch. The fallen leaves enrich the soil around the plant and allow the plant to grow and spread in its own loamy mulch. If you are an Orange County homeowner who hasn’t picked up your free ‘Dana…
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Birds, Bees and Buckwheat
The California Native Plant Society Orange County (OCCNPS) chapter created A Buckwheat in Every Garden to encourage homeowners to plant California native plants in their home landscape– which in turn supports and increases bird populations. My neighbor recently sent this photo of a swallowtail butterfly laying eggs on the leaves of her kumquat tree. She had…
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Buckwheat Brings a Party
One hundred and fifty ‘Dana Point’ California buckwheats found new homes in Orange County. The first outreach event at Acorn Day at O’Neill Regional Park and the second outreach at Smartscape were very popular, attracting many gardeners eager to install a native California buckwheat in their home landscapes. The Orange County chapter of the California…
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Buckwheat in Bloom
According to the California Native Plant Society’s Calscape.org, there are 251 varieties of buckwheat (Eriogonum) native to California! You can go to Calscape.org and see for yourself all of the beautiful buckwheat varieties that grow in the state. Three different varieties of buckwheat are growing in my home garden currently, and I am looking forward to adding…
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Butterfly Weekend
This weekend was California Biodiversity Day 2019 sponsored by the California Natural Resources Agency. Scientists sought observations by fellow scientists, gardeners and ordinary citizens in mapping plants and animals living in California. In honor of Biodiversity Day, I took a break from my chores and spent some time outside in my backyard with my husband…
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Local Plants Support Bird Life
Even planting a small corner of your garden with locally native plants will help support bird life and butterflies.
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More Butterflies in Your Garden
Southern California is home to people and plants from around the world. Plants from far away lands have been introduced in California and have become so common that many people believe that most ornamental plants are native. Examples of introduced species include Eucalyptus trees from Australia, ice plant from Africa, and bougainvillea from Brazil. These…
A Buckwheat in Every Garden 