Native plant links
Below are some links to great Western native plant websites that we love. Email us if you have any to add to this list! info@juniperridge.com
organizations
cnps (california native plant society) The California Native Plant Society is an amazing organization whose mission is “to increase understanding and appreciation of California's native plants and to conserve them and their natural habitats through education, science, advocacy, horticulture and land stewardship.” Their website has tons of information about native plants, local chapters, volunteering opportunities, etc. Check it out! CONTACT INFO: 2707 K Street, Suite 1; Sacramento, CA 95816; 916-447-2677. www.cnps.org
the theodore payne foundation
Another great educational organization that not only teaches people about native plants but also sells native seeds and has an online catalog in addition to an amazing online native plant library. CONTACT INFO: 10459 Tuxford Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352; 818- 768-1802. www.theodorepayne.org
nurseries & seed companies
berkeley horticultural
Located right across from the Golden Gate Bridge, Berkeley Hort is a family-owned nursery that has a significant California natives department. They encourage organic gardening and have lots of interesting information about the history of their business on the website. CONTACT INFO: 1310 McGee Ave; Berkeley, CA 94703; 50-526-4704. www.berkeleyhort.com.
cal-native plants
Started in 2000, Cal-Natives focuses on the importance of native plants and how to combat the negative effect of invasive species on California natives. To quote from their website, Cal-Natives focuses on on "promoting both California “friendly” and native plant production without incorporating the ‘industry standard’ of applying pesticides or fungicides to any plant.on promoting both California “friendly” and native plant production without incorporating the ‘industry standard’ of applying pesticides or fungicides to any plant". Consequently, their operation is completely pesticide free and they only use organic growing techniques. CONTACT INFO: 25735 Garbani Rd.; Menifee, CA 92584; 951-301-8075. www.cal-nativeplants.com
larner seeds
For thirty years, Judith Larner Lowry has been collecting native seeds and propagating plants to sell at her seed company in Bolinas. Her book, Gardening with a Wild Heart is a must have for California native plant lovers. She is a pioneer of native plant restoration and education, and her coastal scrub demonstration garden has been in existence for over twenty-five years. You can even hire her as a consultant when you are ready to go native in your own backyard! CONTACT INFO: 235 Grove Rd.; Bolinas, CA 94924; 415-868-9407. www.larnerseeds.com
tree of life nursery
Tree of Life is another strictly native nursery. I love how they sell a bumper sticker that says "I KILLED MY LAWN. Ask me how". Lawns guzzle water and usually need some pesticides and yucky fertilizer to keep them green and lush. The folks at Tree of Life have extensive experience in ecological restoration and will show you how to turn your backyard into a native oasis. Their website offers good resources for starting this process that may seem daunting at first. Additionally they have a nice little shop called Casa 'La Paz' Plant & Book Store. CONTACT INFO: 33201 Ortega Hwy; San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675; 949-728-0685 www.treeoflifenursery.com
yerba buena nursery
The Yerba Buena Nursery also focuses on California Natives and has a selection of over 600 varieties of plants. Located in Woodside, CA, Yerba Buena has a 2-acre demonstration garden that you can visit. They also offer monthly afternoon tea service in their 1905 farmhouse. CONTACT INFO: 19500 Skyline Boulevard; Woodside, CA 94062; 650-851-1668. www.yerbabuenanursery.com
botanical gardens & arboretums
rancho santa ana botanic garden
RSABG is the largest botanic garden dedicated to California natives. With 86 acres of property and panoramic mountain views, the garden features numerous native wildflowers and shrubs. RSABG offers many classes and events and helps its visitors gain an appreciation and understanding of California's native heritage. CONTACT INFO: 1500 North College Ave.; Claremont, CA 91711; 909-625-8767. www.rsabg.org
recommended reading
university of california press
The University of California Press offers a wonderful array of California Natural History Guides, a few of which are updated each year. Our recommendations include Introduction to California Chaparral and all of the wildflower natural history guides. Additionally, UC Press publishes many books about California ecology and gardening including Tending the Wild and Native Treasures: Gardening with the Plants of California. They also publish Judith Lowry's books (of Larner Seeds, mentioned above) and Hardy Californians, a book about the amazing Lester Rowntree. And let's not forget the Jepson Manual of California plants! www.ucpress.edu
a natural history of western trees
This is one of our favorite books at Juniper Ridge. We have a worn copy that floats around from office to office whenever we need to do a little research on the plants we use. Donald Peattie gives very poetic and informational descriptions and we appreciate his accessible and friendly writing style. Available at Amazon
