Fall Workshops, Events and More!

Selecting Native Plants and More…

Choosing natives that are appropriate for varying garden situations can be intimidating.  Tree of Life is here to help!  Our Selecting Native Plants for your Garden series began in September.  This Saturday, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Research Associate, Biology Professor, & Author, Bob Allen, a will share his truly remarkable knowledge about selecting plants to attract pollinators.  Join us tomorrow at 10 AM, this class should not be missed!

Only three more workshops remain in our completely free Selecting Native Plants for Your Garden Series this October.  Later this month, please join us for the annual Orange County California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Benefit Day on October 24, 2009, 9-4 pm.  There will be a workshop that day hosted by the CNPS entitled: Water-Less Gardens that you and your Neighbors will Love!

It’s going to be a busy planting season, “Bring California Home” through the use of native plants, which provide authenticity, diversity and habitat for wildlife like hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects in your garden.

For the details about our remaining Plant Selection workshops, the CNPS workshop and our Replace your Lawn with Native Plants Workshops in November….

We will be repeating the ever-popular Replace your Lawn with Native Plants series for the first three Saturdays in November.  And of course, in December, you can expect our yearly Wreath-making Workshop as well as a Native Plants for Containers Workshop.  Come make a lovely and natural gift for yourself or a friend.  See our Events Calendar for those December dates and look out for more information via our Facebook fan page and our Twitter feed.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 – 10:00 AM
Plant Selection: Pollinator Plants, Beneficial Insects
Pollinators include more than just beautiful native butterflies and hummingbirds. Don’t forget BUGS!  Songbirds and lizards are attracted to gardens that are herbicide-free and that have tasty bugs, too.  Come learn which native plants will attract unique, interesting and beneficial bugs to your garden.  We will be hearing from one of our most knowledgeable guest speakers, Orange County lecturer: Bob Allen.

Saturday, October 10, 2009 – 10:00 AM
Plant Selection: Special Situations – Slopes, Wet Areas, Shade
EVERY garden is special and almost every one has an area that constitutes a “special situation”. This week, we will highlight native plants that perform well in tough spots in the garden. We will be discussing native plants for wet areas, slopes and shade.  Bring your own “special situation” questions for our expert staff.

Saturday, October 17, 2009 – 10:00 AM
Plant Selection: Special Situations – Clay Soils, Hot and Dry Areas
EVERY garden is special and almost every one has an area that constitutes a “special situation”. This week, we will highlight native plants that perform well in tough spots in the garden. We will be discussing native plants for hot and dry areas as well as plants and maintenance in clay soils.  Bring your own “special situation” questions for our expert staff.

Satuday, October 24 – 10:00 AM
CNPS Workshop: Water-Less Gardens that you and your Neighbors will Love
A panel of experts assembled and moderated by the CNPS-Orange County will discuss tidy evergreen native shrubs that will give your garden a lush look with barely any water. Come with your questions and thoughts as well!

Hope to see you online, in your garden or here sometime this planting season!