Creating Native Landscapes
The typical suburban backyard has an area of groomed lawn, flower beds which follow the fence line and a tree or three to provide shade. In contrast, native habitats are home to pollinators such as native bees and support a wide variety of wildlife. They can bloom profusely and provide dramatic contrasts in textures and form. They can be self-sustaining through periods of summer drought and are refreshed during our cool, wet California winters.
If you are interested in adding native plants to your garden, if you wish to “weather-proof” your landscape, or if you’re just curious, the Gardening with Natives: Creating Native Landscapes is for you. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Sierra Foothills Chapter will present the third annual Gardening with Natives Symposium on Saturday, September 14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Sierra Building, Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Stockton Street in Sonora, CA.
Keynote speaker is Judith Larner Lowry, owner and proprietor of Larner Seeds, which provides California native seeds of wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, vines, & trees. Her keynote address is titled, “35 Years of Gardening with a Wild Heart.” Other speakers include Julie Serences, native bee expert; Mary Anderson, native plant propagator and retired native nursery owner; and Helen Popper, author of “California Native Gardening, A Month-by-Month Guide.”
Registration is $30 for CNPS members before September 1, $35 for non-CNPS members before September 1, and $40 for all after September 1. Registration includes lunch, morning and afternoon snacks, and program hand-outs. For a registration form, contact Patricia Hohne at (209) 352-4312, phohne@gmail.com .
Patricia Hohne is a member of the Sierra Foothills Chapter of the California Native Plant Society
