Fall is Time to Plant CA Native Plants

deer grass from SB Botanic Garden

Two weekends ago, we took a ride up to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for their fall native plant sale. 

Native plants can stand up to drought, but now is the time to plant those plants. If the rains really do come, it will give your native plants a jump on survival. For us, it is also about maintaining the stability of our hillside. 

I've been planting, planting, planting.

Calliandra from seeds

Even some of the seedlings I started this spring are going into the ground.

The Botanic garden also had a  cross-over art event, a fiber arts installation organized by Yarn Blaster Babes. 

Check out our Earth Minute videos of the installation How Do Trees Dream? and a school project that displayed How Tall is a Redwood Tree?

This creative installation reminds us all to play. Explore trees, plants, and flowers. Don't just look, interact. A new viewpoint may open up some other aspect of your life. The solution to that work challenge might be found while playing in the garden. Gardens don't have to be big; make a mini-garden.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden plant sale continues through the end of the month. What more can I say? GO. 

Make a Fairy Garden

Between pocket gophers and the drought, I admit I'm garden weary. 

I needed a garden success so I redid my mini-gardens.

Take a minute and let's redo a mini-garden together.



If you are garden weary too, you might also visit a public garden or local California wild place. 

Hidden Gardens of Los Angeles and other California wild places on The Earth Minute

Visit for inspiration or a bit of nature's calm and let someone else worry about the watering.

Earth Day Weekend Events

Limekiln Canyon, San Fernando Valley

Get out and experience the world around you. Here are two family-friendly FREE events and local places to head out to this weekend in the Los Angeles Area.

Southern California Flower Show

April 23 - 26, South Coast Plaza

for more info www.springgardenshow.com

Display gardens, CA native plants, flowers, fairy gardens, bonsai, if it grows you'll find it at the Flower Show. This is a treat for the senses. Did you know there is an orchid that smells like coconut? No kidding.

Escape to the Flower Show

Santa Monica Mountains Science Fest 

Saturday, April 25  10 AM - 4 PM

at Paramount Ranch

for more info Science Fest

Hikes, presentations with live local wildlife, booths from LA County Natural History Museum, Friends of the Island Fox, National Parks, Del Air Rockhounds and much, much more. Explore the old Paramount Studios lot for filming westerns and discover local wild California.

Walk to The Getty

Take a Hike

• Limekiln Canyon, San Fernando Valley
• Los Virgenes Open Space
• Hike to The Getty

 
Visit one of L.A.'s Hidden Gardens

Don't get stuck indoors!

Drought Relief

Need an escape from the drought? 

Take a one-minute walk through 

New York's Central Park 

in the rain on The Earth Minute.com

Hidden Gardens of Los Angeles

red-legged frog sculpture at Malibu Legacy Park

Here and there in the corners of the city, there are wonderful public gardens.

I'm spotlighting a few of them on The Earth Minute (theearthminute.com). Each profile offers a one-minute video of the location and details on parking, accessibility, and amenities.

The Malibu Legacy Park offers native plants, a host of birdlife, and mosaic sculptures of California wildlife.

Orcutt Ranch Park is a quiet stroll through California history–complete with lemons, adobe, and an ancient oak tree.

Orcutt Ranch Park rose garden