The new wave in landscaping is building habitat by growing native plants, but you don’t need a yard to promote biodiversity. Help save the world by growing native plants in pots Last year’s entries and instructions for making wreaths are on the website, as are wreath-making workshops around California. Photos of the completed wreaths must be submitted by Dec. The categories are “Most ‘I want to hang this on my door,’” “Most avant-garden,” “Most naturalistic,” “Most whimsical,” “Kid’s category” for entrants under 18, and “Best in show” (all entries will be considered in this category). Winners in the six categories receive a limited-edition foil print by botanical artist Justina Freel the best-of-show winner gets a framed original work of art by Freel. The California Native Plant Society’s Wreath Masters competition invites individuals and organizations to create wreaths mostly (51%) composed of California native plants in a free monthlong contest. Admission is free, but attendees must RSVP to maintain COVID-safe crowd sizes at the nursery at 10459 Tuxford St. The Theodore Payne Foundation’s Fall Plant Sale offers the native-plant foundation‘s largest selection of California native plants for the year, along with expert advice, activities for children and discount prices (15% off for members, 10% for nonmembers). Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve is a (semi) secret garden near Ojai that should be on everyone’s “Go!” list.Įmail garden- and plant-related events to at least three weeks before the event, and we might include them in the calendar. It’s hard to find, but we’ve got directions Dried flowers and seeds provide food for birds and other animals in the winter, so don’t be greedy when you go collecting, and, of course, always get permission to forage on private property. Use cultivated plants for your creations as much as possible. Unsure what to do? Check out last year’s video by the Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano or enroll in wreath-making workshops and enter the California Native Plant Society’s Wreath Masters competition (details below). This is also a great time to wander your yard and neighborhood to collect dried grasses and flowers, seedpods, evergreen branches and cones for holiday arrangements and wreaths. Many of SoCal’s botanic gardens are resuming their holiday light shows this year - most start before Thanksgiving - so start looking for tickets now if you want to attend because prime evenings sell out quickly. With the start of November, the countdown begins to a holiday season we hope will be merry, with lights, music, great grub and real-time visits with the people we love (fingers crossed or, more proactively, arms poked to ward off COVID-19 and the flu).

The land of always winter