Press Release: Habitat Gardening Workshop Seriess

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2009

Attracting Wildlife to Drought-Resistant Gardens by Using Native Plants

Friday, March 27, 2009 – In the current water crisis, one of the more exciting possibilities open to home-owners choosing to eliminate lawn in favor of landscaping with drought-tolerant native plants is attracting local wildlife.  This would include many pollinators, like hummingbirds, native bees and even butterflies.

Do you remember the look on the face of a six year old who watches a butterfly flit from flower to flower?   Or have you seen hummingbirds squawking and fighting over the right to perch on a particular branch?  To bring these delightful creatures closer to home and ad value to our existing landscapes, we must create hospitable and attractive habitats for local wildlife.

To educate the public about how to garden for the express purpose of attracting local wildlife, Tree of Life Nursery presents the Habitat Gardening With Native Plants Workshop Series.

Attracting Wildlife to your Garden…

Habitat Gardening: Butterflies!
April 11, 2009 – 9:30-11:00 am

Use flowering native plants in your garden to attract butterflies. Come learn about plants that serve as host plants for certain species of butterflies and how to provide important habitat for these creatures according to their life-cycles. Our guest speaker is Helen Wood who has extensive experience from working with her own butterfly garden in Mission Viejo.  She belongs to the Master Gardeners of Orange County, California Native Plant Society and the North American Butterfly Association.  For more information about native plants that are useful to butterflies, download our Sage Advice article: Natives for Butterflies.

Habitat Gardening: Bugs!
April 18, 2009 – 9:30-11:00 am

Attract fascinating pollinating insects to your garden. Join Bob Allen as he showcases delightful and unique bugs native to our region as well as their beneficial qualities.  Both an Entomologist and a Botanist, Bob Allen is an instructor, photographer, consulting biologist, and avid hiker.  His photographs and illustrations appear in various scientific publications and natural history field guides.  He currently teaches at Irvine Valley College, Santa Ana College, and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. His course subjects include plants, insects, and nature photography. His second book, Field Guide to Wildflowers of Orange County, is nearly completed.  http://www.boballenphotography.com/

Habitat Gardening: Hummingbirds!
April 25, 2009 – 9:30-11:00 am

Attract beautiful local hummingbirds to your garden by using native plants. Our very own Laura Camp will show you how to identify different hummingbirds and how to provide plentiful nectar and proper shelter to attract them to your garden.  Laura has worked at Tree of Life Nursery for fourteen years and has  kept track of the many birds she has sighted here.  The nursery’s current bird count is up to 114 distinct species, and 50 of those species have been spotted on our office deck right outside Laura’s window, (if you design it well, they will come right to you!).  She has been involved in Audubon Societies’ Christmas Bird Counts for nearly 20 years, and she currently serves at the President of the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.  For more information about native plants that are attractive to Hummingbirds, download our Sage Advice article: Natives for Hummingbirds.

Tree of Life Nursery is the largest grower of California native plants in the state.  Specializing in a line of plants from the Southern California region, Tree of Life is dedicated to providing the finest quality of commercially available plants to the landscaping trade and to the public.  Tree of Life Nursery believes in creating spaces that look and feel authentically ‘Californian’.

Tree of Life Nursery
33201 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
www.CaliforniaNativePlants.com

Contact: Debbie Evans, email.