sage

Spring Blooms on California’s Central Coast

by Kathy Vilim 8 Comments

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I wake to the sound of a toad, quietly bleating from the lagoon behind me, then ducks chime in, calling out noisily until toad is all but drowned out. The air smells of moisture from overnight rain. It smells clean from the ocean, and full of life from all the plants and animals here. I [...]

Filed Under: Wildlife Garden Tagged With: California Central Coast, Central CA Coast, Eucalyptus trees, fuchsia flowering gooseberry, hummingbird sage, monarchs, native plants, parks, Pink flowering currant, planted Mr. Tree, Ribes, sage, Santa Barbara, sierra nevada foothills, Spring blooms, West Coast Monarchs, wildflowers

White Sage of the California Chaparral

by Kathy Vilim 18 Comments

White Sage (Salvia apiana) Flowers Get Lots of Attention from Hummingbirds, Photo Courtesy of Las Pilitas Nursery

Ah, the sweet scent of Sage in the Canyon~ Nothing says Topanga like the hillsides covered in the fragrant Sages. I let my dog run through the Sage bushes, knowing he will come back smelling so good! Right now, I am smelling Sage coming from my neighbor Marcie’s house. Is she burning incense? [...]

Filed Under: Native Perennials Tagged With: Anna's Hummingbirds, bumblebees, Chaparral, Chumash, Coastal Sage Scrub, drought tolerant, medicinal plants, native American Indian tribes, native garden plant, native plant, native sage, plants to attract hummingbirds, pollinators, sage, salvia, Santa Monica Mountains, smudge stick, smudging ritual, Tongva, Topanga, Topanga Canyon, wasps, white sage

Planning a Butterfly Garden

by Kathy Vilim 19 Comments

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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!