Native Gardener

Stand Up and Be Counted

2012-01-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

It was a cool, misty morning and I was up a bit earlier than usual taking my morning walk with my dog. A “click, click, whir” caught my attention from far up above. I knew it to be the sound of Anna’s Hummingbirds (Calypte anna). I looked for them and discovered they… [Continue Reading]

On the First Day of Christmas, my Wildlife Garden Gave to Me..

2011-12-16T13:26:00.000-08:00

Black Hooded Parakeet, Nandayus nenday,
Topanga Canyon, CA, Photo by Kathy Vilim

A flash of green caught my eye, bright green! Mourning doves rose up with a sudden clatter and flew off.. I had a visitor, two visitors in fact. And they were not ordinary guests..

On the 1^st day of Christmas I received a wonderful surprise gift: 2 green parrots, a male and female, arrived on my deck railing! They were so colorful, it was obvious they were not normal visitors. No brown birds were these. They even intimidated my cat when she came to investigate. Sociable and curious about me, the male was more assertive, while his partner slipped away .. continue reading..

Anna's Hummingbirds, the Hummingbirds of Winter

2011-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

Manzanita, (Arctostaphylos_pungens) Photo Courtesy of Las Pilitas Nursery

“Why not stay on with us and be jolly?” Ratty, Wind in the Willows

Ah, the late afternoon sun in the native garden, how it warms my face. I wait for my friends, the hummingbirds. I hear them clicking in the trees and know that they will be here soon. Yellow leaves litter the ground. It is that time of year when most birds have plans for a southern vacation. Indeed, many of them have gone already. And it is sad for us: we will miss them. Why can’t they stay and see what fun we have right here? Why must they go?

Luckily, my hummingbird friends are staying ALL winter. ... continue reading

In the News: Go Wild! Native Plant Sale

2011-12-02T15:34:00.000-08:00

Join the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM) at our annual Go Wild! Native Plant Sale, Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Thanks to Matilija Nursery for providing the majority of the plants, enlightened shoppers with a wise eye towards conserving water and restoring the environment, can browse and buy while out of doors.

Buyers can pre-order specific plants by sending a list of plants with numbers to: malibucreekwatershed@gmail.com, with the words “Go Wild Order” in the subject heading. Plants must be picked up by noon on the day of the event or they will be sold to other deserving persons.

The California Department of State Parks has provided space for the event at the Topanga Ranch Motel, 18711 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California 90265.

The RCDSMM thanks the California Native Plant Society, Malibu City and Green Garden Group for ongoing support and advice.

For more information: (818) 597-8627; rcdsmm.org.

(as reported in the Topanga Messenger)

Her First Autumn Leaf

2011-11-23T16:06:00.000-08:00

It was crisp and clear the day after the rains. Golden leaves of the Sycamores rustled in front of blue sky, the sun glinting through them. Everywhere around me sandy soil was soaking in rain. I set out for a walk up the street with my old dog. A neighbor friend was walking too, pushing her 5 mo old baby girl in a baby carriage. So, we walked together.

Passing under the Cottonwoods, I realized Baby had a great view of the sky and the tops of the tall trees from where she sat. Yesterday's winds had blown down a lot of yellow leaves and left them piled on the roadside. I picked one up and held it out to her. She took it from me with her tiny pink fingers and thanked me with a warm smile. Her mother was afraid she would put it in her mouth. I had a feeling that she would not. No, she held it while we walked, her other hand feeling its texture. It was like no texture she had ever felt. Similar to the pages of a book? Perhaps. But this was a new touch sensation. This was Baby's First Autumn, and I felt a sense of joy at the thought that I had given her her First Autumn Leaf.. a gift of Nature.

Friend or Foe in the Canyon? #gardenwalk

2011-11-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

Topanga Canyon, California

Friend or Foe? Is this vine-like plant eating the Sumac or is it harmless? Growing strong still in November sun~

West Coast Monarchs

2011-11-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

Cruising at 1000 ft.. searching for “that tree”.. ascending to a height where land could only be a dark blur.. Orange-gold wings against blue sky..

Every October I think about the Monarch migration to Mexico from the East Coast. And I wonder: where do the West Coast Monarchs go? Continue reading here..

Monarch on Ascelepias (narrowleafed milkweed)

As Autumn Leaves Fly

2011-11-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

The owls call out to each other, their voices low and solemn in the predawn darkness. The coffee pot gurgles reassuringly. I hear the light footsteps of coyote in my garden. My head is full of thoughts of butterflies, Monarchs migrating, golden wings against a blue California sky. And Autumn leaves, the yellow of Cottonwoods...

I found myself disappointed yesterday as I walked past a tall stand of Cottonwoods. They didn't have much color. They seemed to have gone from green to brown without the glorious color of other years. But, just then a breeze came and rustled the tall branches way up high. Dozens of leaves were sent flying downward, above my head, swirling, gliding, laughing "What fun!" I couldn't help but smile and stop to watch them.

And, at that moment, it didn't matter about their color. They held in their flight the magic of all the other times I'd watched Autumn leaves fall. For that moment... it was all Autumns.

In the News: Huntington Library to Archive & Exhibit Al Martinez' Work

2011-10-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Martinez will be only the third L.A. Times person ever to have his works collected by the Huntington. The other two are editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and columnist Jack Smith. Conrad died last year and Jack Smith in 1996.

Since leaving the Times in 2009, Martinez has written two columns a week for the L.A. Daily News that appear on Mondays and Fridays. In addition, he is working on his thirteenth book, freelances for various magazines and conducts the Topanga Writers Workshop, which he created three years ago. (continue reading)

Yearning to Burn

2011-10-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa) Topanga, CA, Photo by Kathy Vilim

I am Manzanita, a chaparral bush in Southern California. I can sense that fire is coming.. I have lived here without fire for over 30 years. I yearn to burn and make new growth! Smoke is in the air.. Soon fire beetles will flock to me from far away to mate on my branches as the flames heat them … [Continue Reading]

Pitter Patter.. First Rain for Topanga this Season

2011-10-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

I woke at 4:30AM to the sound of wind chimes, low and compelling, singing out in perfect harmonic tones, in a song the wind was writing as it went.. I heard an owl hoot and then a baby owl, with only 2 notes in his call. Then, I didn't hear them anymore. I felt warmth fill me as I realized all 4 of my pets (2 black cats & 2 dogs) were sleeping in the bedroom with me. The wind chimes continued; the song had turned to low notes when I heard the unmistakable patter of what could only be .. rain! Rain, tapping on the roof. Rain, pitter patter against my wooden house. I took a deep breath, smelling the moisture through the open window. The wind began to pick up; the song became more vigorous.

One cat decided to leave us, jumping off the bed and running to the living room door. She meowed relentlessly until hubby gave in and let her out on the deck.. in the pouring rain.. in the blackness! When she did not come right back, I wrapped myself in my pink robe and went out to try to call her, very aware there are coyotes out there and that she would not be able to escape to the roof in this rain! Luckily, she came back, all wet and done exploring. I think she must have felt like I did: so excited with the first rain we've had since June, that she just had to go investigate.

I will be out there as soon as it is light, with my dog and my yellow umbrella. But for now, I am enjoying the pitter patter of rain on my wooden house. It is as if I am in a wooden box afloat, separate and safe from the elements, with my warm cup of coffee and the warm light from the bedside lamp.

Don't Miss the Fall Festival & Plant Sale at Theodore Payne Nursery

2011-09-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you are in LA County, you will want to put this one on your Calendar.

October 7&8 - Members Days (not a member? come & join)

October 14 & 15 - Open to the Public

I love this place to shop for Native Plants and Wildflower Seeds!

Always knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.

Click here for a list of Plant Inventory

10459 tuxford st, sun valley, ca 91352
818 768-1802 | theodorepayne.org

In the News: Backbone Trail may soon be linked..

2011-09-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

A popular hiking trail that crosses through a trio of state parks and boasts panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean is inching closer to completion, thanks to a recent land acquisition.

It's taken more than two decades to forge, clear and maintain the Backbone Trail, which stretches from Will Rogers State Historic Park near Brentwood to Point Mugu in Ventura County. It will be 65 miles long when complete.

With the recent acquisition, only two private pieces of land - roughly 1.4 miles - stand in the way of having an unbroken trail. Mountain bikers and horse riders also use the trails in various spots.

"We are so close to completion," Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Superintendent Woody Smeck said continue reading...

Washer Woman & the Rattler Snake

2011-09-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Young Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, photo courtesy
of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Well, it figures. Just as I was bounding out the door to throw a load of delicates into my outdoor washing machine, I happen to look down. There, looking up at me from the other side of the glass door was Rattler! With his tongue out all slitherin-like! He was looking into the house, and the door was just slightly ajar, enough so that he could slither right in if he liked. My guess is he was thinking about it!

It's funny, most Rattlers are more brown, whereas this one was black, but still the unmistakable diamond markings. I did what any Washer Woman would do: I got hubby and handed him a broom! He started to sweep it on out of there, which caused Rattler to start up hissing loudly. (If you ever hear a sound like water running, when there is water nowhere about, it's Rattler.) Of course, he was as scared as I was. Hubby held him off while I got the delicates going. We shooed him down the hill, but who knows when he will come back. We saw this same Rattler just the other day, in a standoff with Cat!

As if Washer Woman hasn't got her work cut out already.. I really did want to get you a photo, really..

Wildlife Encounter in the Fog

2011-09-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) Topanga Canyon,

photo by Kathy Vilim

On this morning, the fog has come in from the Ocean, making Topanga Canyon a soft palette of pastel greens, golden brown & blue.. I walk quietly, listening to the sounds around me with my dog. I feel like someone is behind me, so I turn.... continue reading

In the News: Lost Manzanita Found in San Francisco

2011-09-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

UPDATE—9/7/11: Endangered Status Proposed for SF’s Miracle Manzanita

UPDATE—6/14/11: Lawsuit Filed to Protect Franciscan Manzanita

(from the Wild Equity Institute)

A San Francisco resident recently got an astounding view while driving the Golden Gate Bridge—the first sighting of San Francisco’s namesake manzanita in nearly seventy years.
Dr. Daniel Gluesenkamp, Director of Habitat Restoration for Audubon Canyon Ranch, was driving home from speaking at a climate change conference when his attention focused on an unusual-looking plant. A few days later he revisited the site and discovered the first living specimen of the Franciscan or San Francisco manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana) seen in the wild in nearly seven decades. continue reading..

In the News: Lessons of the Meadow

2011-09-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

From Lancaster, PA, Marylou Barton wants to teach children to care about their community. All of it.

"All community members ... including bugs and native plants," Barton said as she strolled along the north side of the Manheim Township Public Library with 3-year-old grandson Gabriel Sheaffer

It is there that the new Discovery Meadow will officially open Saturday, Sept. 10, at 595 Granite Drive.

In the News: Boulder's Taste of Tomato ~Heirlooms

2011-08-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 10, O'Meara and the Brawners, along with the Camera, will offer Taste of Tomato, an heirloom tomato tasting that will give lovers of the love apple the opportunity to indulge their passion in a three-hour event, admission for which is ... a handful of the participant's own homegrown tomatoes. (Those who don't have black brandywines or sungolds on the vine can pay $3 for admission.) The idea is not only to taste some great tomatoes, but to share knowledge. What grows best in Colorado difficult climate and unfriendly soils? A panel will judge the best-tasting tomato variety. ... continue reading

CA Event: Native Plant Presentations San Luis Obispo Botanic Gardens

2011-08-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

From the Santa Maria Times:

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden will host a pair of presentations on native plants in September, one geared toward indulging your senses and the other about attracting wildlife.
On Sept. 10, Carol Bornstein, acclaimed author and horticultural expert from Santa Barbara, will give a presentation titled “Indulge Your Senses in the Native Garden.”
Then, on Sept. 11, Penny (Wilson) Nyunt of Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita, will reveal “How to Attract Wildlife with California Natives.”

Native Plants to Paint Your Garden Blue

2011-08-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Gardeners all agree: it’s not easy to find blue flowers, least of all on native plants. Enter: Ceanothus! This wonderful plant has over 60 different species in California alone, with every color blue ranging from white, to pale blue, to china blue, to violet. It is this exciting choice of blue flower colors that draws gardeners to this genus. continue reading

In the News: Native Plants Deserve a Spot in Our Landscape

2011-08-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

I came across this story in the news in Indianapolis, where so many folks are attending #GWA11 this weekend. It is so heart-warming to see yet another person taking up the spade for native plants after reading Doug Tallamy's "Bringing Nature Home". Thought you'd enjoy.. read Indy Star article here.

In the News: Poop is Golden in North Hollywood

2011-08-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

It seems gardeners everywhere are turning to Poop to make their gardens grow, esp vegetable gardens. So Poop is in demand! Rabbits, chickens, horse poop, all are like gold to the gardener. I wanted to share this local news story about a community/school garden and how they're growin' .. continue reading..

Topanga is a Special Place

2011-07-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Topanga is a special place. It is a respite from urban life.. but not just for people. The Santa Monica Mountains are a place where animals and native plants can thrive in the ecosystem they were made for. The mountains support an entire community that goes from basic organisms in the soil, to a variety of insects (some of which are 'specialists' that are attracted to only certain native plants), to birds, reptiles, bats, and larger animals like the Coyote.

Cactus Wren Nest on Pear Cactus Leaf

This community is made more clearly special when you look at it from afar, when you step back, or even check out Satellite Images on Google. There you will find the green of the Santa Monica Mountains surrounded by urban sprawl.

It is a delicate balance that maintains this community. As development progresses, animals and plants are pushed back or erased altogether. Fortunately, zoning ordinances have kept development to a minimum, and most of us that choose to live here know it is a special place.

People need a respite from urban life... not just a park filled with green turf and a few non-native trees. People need to spend time in nature's communities.. to observe wildlife, to watch baby birds be born, to see what plants butterflies feed on.. We as humans are part of nature. It is not us or them. We are all one. We don't even know how much we need the natural world, until we spend time in it. Then we realize..

Washer Woman, Washer Woman Won't You Put Out the Wash?

2011-07-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

White towels hang neatly in rows. They catch the breezes and flutter gently. The sunrise lights them with an orange glow…

I never was much of a laundry lover... (some folks take so much enjoyment in it)… that is, until I started doing laundry outdoors in Topanga Canyon!

My little wooden house came with an outdoor water hook up, not an indoor one. So, I bought a washer/dryer and set it up. It wasn’t long, maybe a year or two, before the dryer broke, likely from being outside in all kinds of weather.. including rain. No matter: I had a clothesline! That is much more fun anyway. No need to replace a dryer, just to have it break again, I thought.

Now, I take my time hanging up the clothes, pausing to feel the sun on my face, or take a glance at a new rose bloom. My sheets smell like the Canyon, not like some generic perfume smell. How neat is that? Now doing laundry is a welcome excuse to spend just that extra bit of time outdoors and drag me away from the computer.

When my mom came out for a visit, the first time, I said she could use my washer if she needed to. Say no more: Mom was hooked. Suddenly, she had to wash her & my dad’s suitcase-size load of clothes seemingly every other day!

Next, my sister got jealous and during a remodel jumped at the chance to move her W&D outdoors, too! Now here is a woman that has always looked forward to washing clothes for her family. Still, she hasn’t moved up that one more step to ditching the dryer altogether. I can appreciate that.. it IS a hassle in winter trying to plan laundry loads between rainstorms!

Using the clothesline instead of a dryer: what a great way to conserve electricity. I use the sun instead; we have plenty of it after all in Southern California. In case you wondered about the laundry water run-off, not to worry, my green, eco-minded friends. I can use the gray water on fruit trees with no negative impact on the native plants. (Of course, you have to use organic soap to make this work out.) So, my laundry does not interfere with any of the natural ebb & flow of life in the Canyon for either the plants or the critters who share my yard with me.

Okay, so there is a down side to outdoor laundry in Topanga Canyon... Here come the Santa Ana winds and then, where are my socks? Blown all amongst the cactus and succulents on the hillside. Okay, who is going to go down there & collect them?

I walk between the rows of white towels, and they make me smile.