Celebrate Butterflies in July

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae incarnata) feeding
 on Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla)

July is one of our important butterfly months. That's why the annual butterfly surveys are scheduled for this month.   See our Calendar of Native Plant Events for local butterfly activities. Activities range from classes on butterfly gardening, workshops on butterflies, butterfly walks and participation in local butterfly counts.    

Celebrating National Pollinator Week

 

 

The 3rd week in June is National Pollinator Week.  Here are a few things you can do to celebrate:

• Do something to make your garden more pollinator-friendly this month – planning counts!
• Learn more about pollinator gardening
• http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/planning-for-pollinators-2013

§  http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html

• Celebrate  National Pollinator Week – check for local events
• Take a Garden Pollinator Survey – it’s fun and educational

§  http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/citizen-scientist-2013-mother-natures.html

• Take photos of pollinators in your garden – they’re fascinating!
• Learn more about a pollinator that interests you
• Talk to your family, friends and neighbors about the importance of pollinators

 

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questions?  e-mail us at nativeplantscsudh@gmail.com

 

 

 

New Page - Plants Currently Available at CSUDH Native Plant Nursery

 

 

See our new page (left)  for what's currently available at our native plant nursery on campus.

Need a quiet place on campus? Try the 'Garden of Dreams' Discovery Garden

 

 

The Garden of Dreams is located on the northeast corner of Parking Lot 1 - just east of the Child Development Center. It's just beyond the large hedge of Mule Fat along the sidewalk.   The garden features local native plants and there's something blooming most of the time.  It's quiet and peaceful - a great place to just sit, watch the birds and butterflies and  relax.   There are several places to sit in the garden.

 

California Native Plants Provide Edible Greens

Did you know that some California native plants are edible?  For more see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/03/california-gourmet-recipes-for-native.html

Blooming like wild in Heritage Creek Preserve - Calilfornia Encelia (Encelia californica)

California Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica) blooming in the Heritage Creek Nature Preserve on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus

The yellow sunflower that's in full bloom right now is California Bush Sunflower, Encelia californica.    This local native shrub is one of our early spring bloomers;  it can flower all the way through spring in some years.   California Encelia is very drought tolerant - the plants at Heritage Creek Preserve (above) are never watered.   They become dormant in summer, then re-leaf each year with the rains.

 

To learn more about California Encelia see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/03/plant-of-month-march-california-bush.html   

 

For a gardening sheet on this plant see: http://www.nbs.csudh.edu/biology/projectsound/native_plants/gallery_e.shtml

 

 

Like Lupines? You've gotta see Garden of Dreams!



Arroyo Lupine (Lupinus succulentis) 
 annual lupine native to CSUDH campus
 

 

If you like lupines, you've got to see the patch of Arroyo Lupines blooming now in the Garden of Dreams (see 'Map - Native Plants at CSUDH' for directions).  They are just spectacular this year. 

 

 

 

 

To learn more about Arroyo Lupines see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2012/03/plant-of-month-arroyo-succulent-lupine.html

 

 

The Chapparal and Golden Currants are looking nice as well.




Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum) is loaded with blooms.  This plant
is a favorite of hummingbirds - and has edible berries