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Notes from a Plant Nut
The Natives Erupt!The Native Garden Explodes in Bloom
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 Ribes sanguineum flower by David Kruse-Pickler  California native irises by Saxon Holt  Romneya coulteri flower by David Kruse-Pickler |
The Native Plant Garden at the San Francisco Botanical Garden will be at the height of its spectacular bloom in April and May. Predictions are that this will be a great year for California wildflowers. Come by and catch the breathtaking wildflower meadow in full glory. With hundreds of plants flowering, you won't want to miss the show.
Irises, poppies, rhododendrons, lupine, ceantothus and more will all be competing for your attention. It's a setting that rivals any garden anywhere – in a truly California style.
Interestingly, the native garden was originally a sunken sand dune. Keep that in mind, when you take a look at this award-winning garden; gardener Terry Seefeld does a magnificent job keeping it beautiful.
If you're planning on a water-wise garden, now is the time to come meet the natives and see them in their full glory. Planting natives not only saves on your water bill, they provide food and habitat for our native pollinators and beneficial insects.
California boasts close to 6000 native plants, more than all the other states combined! In fact, California was named one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots on the planet – places with the highest concentrations of plant life on earth. Our many diverse habitats from desert to redwood forests contributes to this outrageous richness. You'll see some of our state's most beautiful natives at our garden.
The SF Botanical Garden issue of the URBIA Adventure League series will be launched just in time for the colorful Native Garden springtime bloom. The clues in the self-guided treasure hunt booklet make exploring the garden more exciting than ever. Booklets available near the Garden Bookstore on April 10 from 1-3 p.m., and May 8th from 10–noon. A small donation for your adventure packet will benefit the SF Botanical Youth Education Association.
See you in the native garden!
Lisa Van Cleef's life mission is to spark a passion for plants in people. Like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, Lisa sows the seeds that inspire curiosity and a love for the plant world. A long-time SFBG Nursery volunteer, she wrote the Green Gardener column for the SFGate, has worked with the Conservatory of Flowers and The Nature Conservancy. Today, she supports the Society's marketing efforts.