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Environmental reporter Ilsa Setziol is passionate advocate for native plants. For seven years, she reported for NPR-affiliate KPCC, 89.3. Her work has also been heard on PRI's Living On Earth and KQED's The California Report. Recently when Ilsa became a mom, she stared a new blog, Rambling LA, to cover stories about nature, the environment, and outdoor adventures with her son.
LAist asked Ilsa to give us an introduction to native plants. She offers us information on where see them in Southern California, when and how to buy them, and more.
‘Tis the season! No, not that one. Planting Time. Fall and winter are when you start native plants in your garden. With urbanization gobbling up so much of the southern California landscape, gardening with indigenous plants is one small way you can help nature. Plus, the plants are lovely, and don’t require a lot of water. My San Gabriel neighbors often comment on how wonderful my yard smells. It has the sweet, spicy, and slightly dusty smell of the local mountains. Natives are also great for luring bees, butterflies and birds into your yard.
"Among the most popular species for home gardens are ceonothusm, it dazzles with blue, lilac-like blossoms; manzanitas, famous for petite bell-shaped flowers and berries resembling little apples; a variety of sages; and encelia, a bush in the sunflower family that displays yellow flowers with chocolate brown centers."
"One of the challenges for beginners interested in gardening with natives is that the plants usually aren’t blooming when it’s time to plant them. So look for pictures on the web and in books and ask the nursery to show you a picture."
To buy plants and wildflower seeds: Visit the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley or Tree of Life in San Juan Capistrano.
To see them in a public garden: Visit Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont.
For additional information on natives check out:
RamblingLA
California Native Plant Society
Wildflowers and Other Plants of Southern California
Recommended reading:
California Native Plants for the Garden by Bornstein, Fross, O’Brien.
Thanks Ilsa! Now let's get planting and go native!
Photos by Ilsa Setziol
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