native plant garden

Silver Dune Lupines of California’s Central Coast

by Kathy Vilim 6 Comments

Silver Dune Lupine, Lupinus chamissonis, Oceano Dunes, Photo by Kathy Vilim

An Amtrak train announces its arrival at Grand Avenue Station. The familiar whistle tells us it is 7:10 am. At the same time, I can hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing in. I take a walk on the Boardwalk.. it is early… fog is drifting in from the Ocean in large sweeps. Silver [...]

Filed Under: Places to Visit Tagged With: Abronia maritima, California Flannel Bush, Chaparral, crickets, ducks, dunes, Eucalyptus trees, Fremontodendron californicum, frogs, geese, Grover Beach, ladybugs, Lagoon, Lupine, Lupines, Lupinus arboreus, Lupinus chamissonis, milkweed, monarchs, native plant garden, native plant gardens, Oceano, Oceano Dunes Campground, Oceano Lagoon, overwintering grove, Pismo, Sand Verbena, Silver Dune Lupines, snowy plovers, State Parks of San Luis Obispo County, waterfowl, west coast native plants, wildlife, Yellow Buch Lupine

Planning a Butterfly Garden

by Kathy Vilim 19 Comments

buckeye_butterfly_on_a_rabbitbrush_2_header

Photo courtesy of Las Pilitas nursery The Pasadena Rose Parade is behind us now, but the weather it is famous for remains: clear, sunny skies and short-sleeve temperatures. January, what better time for the California native gardener to start a new Wildlife Garden! In reflecting on last year’s garden, I have decided that I don’t [...]

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Filed Under: Insects: Butterflies and Moths Tagged With: Buckeye Butterfly, butterflies, butterfly, butterfly friendly plants, butterfly garden, California, California Buckeye, California Sister Butterfly, California Sycamore, caterpillars, Chaparral, Coast Live Oak, Coastal Sage Scrub, Cottonwood, drought tolerant, garden plans, host plants, insects, larval host, Lepidoptera, Mimulus, Monarch, Monkeyflower, native butterfly host plants, native gardener, native perennials, native plant garden, native plants, native plants for butterflies, nectar, nectar plants, oak trees, Rabbitbrush, sage, Salvias, Santa Monica Mountains, springtime, toyon, Western Swallowtail Butterfly, wildlife garden

We Want:

To redefine beautiful
To start a positive conversation
To become stewards of our properties
To help wildlife in our gardens
To choose plants that help wildlife
To plant more native plants
To remove invasive plants
To talk about the birds and the bees (And the flowers and the trees)
To encourage bugs
To plant for butterflies
To love frogs and toads
To welcome bats
To practice sustainable landscaping
To use water wisely
To use no harmful chemicals

To Show that all of this is BEAUTIFUL!