Replace Your Lawn!
Back by popular demand, we are presenting our RYL workshop series in a special four part installment about the basics of converting your ecologically taxing and expensive lawn into a beautiful, carefree, sustainable habitat. The Replace Your Lawn workshops will run on Saturdays in May at 10 AM.
All of these workshops are FREE of charge and each session lasts about an hour and a half, (depending on questions!). Hopefully you will be able to attend each of the sessions at least once. No reservations are required.
Replace Your Lawn I: Kill Your Grass! - Saturday, May 8, 10:00 AM
Step one - get rid of it! This may be more involved than you would expect and the methods to get rid of a lawn are quite varied. You must identify the type of turf you have, research methods for removal, and then select the method appropriate for the season, your grass type, your work schedule and your budget. The future success of your new planting will depend on your successful removal of the existing turf. 
Download the handout:
 Replace Your Lawn: Kill the grass!
 Replace Your Lawn II: Design Elements
Saturday, May 15, 10:00 AM
Once you have removed, or reduced, the size of your lawn, it’s time to plant – right? Not necessarily. Thoughtful landscape design will save you time, money, and effort. Rob Moore, principal of California Native Landscape Design, will instruct participants about the importance of a design plan and steps to get started in creating one when getting started on your own native plant revamp.
Replace Your Lawn III: Creating and Caring Your Native Garden
Saturday, May 22, 10:00 AM
Plan your landscape carefully before planting. Come learn how to choose a theme, and plan your garden for success with sound horticultural practices and an introduction to plant selection. Mike Evans will share from our booklet, "Creating and Caring for your Native Garden", that you can download here. Learn how to create a thriving native garden.
Replace Your Lawn IV: Plant Selection, Thirty Plants
Saturday, May 22, 10:00 AM
After you have determined the look and feel you wish to achieve in your garden, the fun begins – plant selection! We will present a group of plants we call our Thirty Plants. These are the “must-haves” for any native California garden. This selection of thirty plants represents a handsome mix of the most authentic native plants for Southern California gardens. As we discuss the Thirty Plants, we will expand our knowledge of natives in general, and learn how to chose the right plants for any particular design theme.
Download the handout:
Thirty Basic California Native Plants
 
Learn About Designing Your Garden with Native Plants During the month of April, we will be focusing our workshops on Designing great native gardens, with design ideas ranging from color year-round, to desert plants and hummingbird plants in containers - we even have a Landscape Architect coming to talk to us about design principles. Join us for a new workshop series: Native Designs.
April is a pretty busy month, with flowers to see, garden tours to partake in and just plain old hiking, there's a lot going on. It's also the month of Earth Day, so many friends and neighbors who haven't yet heard the good news of saving water, landscaping sustainably and of the value of native landscaping are being exposed to "green" everything! So, be one of the trendsetters, and bring a friend to one of our great workshops this month! Saturday April 3, 10:00 AM
Native Designs: Color Year Round in the California Native Garden
With all of the information that exists about native gardening in the Southern California, it can be challenging to find the answer to the simple question of year-round color. While there are no natives that bloom all year round, it is certainly possible to group native plants in your garden together so that different plants are blooming throughout the year. With a native garden, you can experience the joy of our unique seasons in Southern California.    
Saturday April 10, 10:00 AM
Native Designs: Create a Hummingbird Container with Native Plants
Come learn about plants that will attract hummingbirds with their flower and nectar and how to create a container planting with them. Our own Patty Roess (Casa 'La Paz' Manager) will share her extensive knowledge and design tips to create attractive container plantings, using native plants for hummingbirds. After the talk, create one with us! The potting bench, extra soil, decorative rocks and sticks will be available for your use. Select and purchase some of our beautiful pottery and plants and we can assist you assembling your container.
Pick up a copy of "Nature's Garden" Magazine at a store near you. Produced by Better Homes and Gardens, Patty Roess and an article about Hummingbird containers will be featured. Press date: March 30, 2010.
Saturday April 17, 10:00 AM
Native Designs: Incorporating Desert Plants in the Native Plant Garden
Add Summer color and nectar sources by adding compatible desert plant species from the Sonoran Desert to your native garden. Wendy Proud from Mountain States Nursery will introduce Tree of Life Nursery's new line of desert plants. In partnership with Mountain States, some desert species will now be available here at Tree of Life. Come learn about this new, wonderful line of plants that are compatible with California natives.
Saturday April 24, 10:00 AM
Native Designs: Design Principles for Success in the Native Plant Garden
Landscape Architect and Instructor Megan Fairleigh from "Go Native Design Studio" will share design principles for attractive garden design. Specializing in designs that feature native plants, Megan will instruct participants how to apply design principles that will help you enhance your garden.
Saturday May 1, 10:00 AM
Native Designs: Plant Selection Tour of Nursery and Gardens
Join us as we open our doors and give an insiders tour of the nursery facilities as well as a walking tour of our planted gardens. We will discuss the plants we see as well as review helpful design tips related to care and maintenance, plant combinations, habitat gardening and seasonal interest. Nothing beats seeing the full-grown plants to help you with planning your own garden!
Hummingbirds and More this Month
Saturday, March 13, ALL DAY
California Native Plant Society (CNPS), San Diego, Benefit Day... a portion of all plant sales will be donated to CNPS SD. www.cnpssd.org for more information and flyer. 10:00 AM - Lecture: Design your Garden to Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies using Native plants!
Landscape Designer Connie Beck will share her expertise in designing attractive landscapes featuring native plants. She will share design ideas and her excellent knowledge of working with native plants and she will instruct you on how to have a beautiful and relaxing garden. Sit back and enjoy as hummingbirds and butterflies come to your renovated garden!
Casper's Park Adventure Day
Join us for the workshop at 10:00 AM, enjoy a little shopping time here at Tree of Life Nursery Casa 'La Paz', then visit our next door neighbor, Caspers Park. They are celebrating "Adventure Day" all day on March 13. See OC Parks announcement here.
Saturday March 20, 10:00 AM
Design your Garden to Attract Hummingbirds with Native Plants
Our own Laura Camp will share what plants to use to attract local hummingbird species to your garden. She will cover the elements of creating healthy hummingbird habitat, like shelter, perching areas, and, nectar sources. She will also give design and plant combination ideas.
Saturday March 27, 10:00 AM
Desert Plants in the California Native Garden
Add Summer color and nectar sources by adding compatible desert plant species from the Sonoran Desert to your native garden. Wendy Proud from Mountain States Nursery will introduce Tree of Life Nursery's new line of Sonoran Desert plants. In partnership with Mountain States, some desert species will now be available here at Tree of Life. Come learn about this new, wonderful line of plants that are compatible with California natives. Click to see our April Workshops with the new series: Native Designs. Also, we will be repeating the Replace Your Lawn Workshops this May! Come and join us!
Steals, Deals, and Featured Plants
We are going to post information about Steals and Deals (and featured plants) from the nursery every week on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Be a fan of our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter… you’ll get regular, fun updates about nursery news, as well as weekly highlighted plants on Wednesdays.
 
Four Inch Wildflowers Available and on Sale!
This week, we want to tell you about our great deal on 4-inch Wildflowers. Some are on sale for three 4-inch wildflowers for $5.00. Now is the time to plant them and with this kind of pricing, a great time to buy them!
Stay tuned for next week’s featured plant, you won’t want to miss it.
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Highlighted Books of 2009 and Book Signing this January!
In 2009 we had some really great books come out advocating the use of native or more naturalistic plants. These two caught our eye:
The Southern California Native Flower Garden: A Guide to Size, Bloom, Foliage, Color and Texture, by Susan Van Atta
Published by Gibbs-Smith
Written by Susan Van Atta, this delightful, inexpensive and handy book has a unique structure that is useful for design ideas. The pages are tri-cut flip sheets with tall plants on the top section, medium shrubs on the mid-section, and low growing plants on the bottom. Along with a key to indicate water use, exposure and wildlife that is attracted to each plant, this compact book delivers an informational punch.
Meet the Author, here at Tree of Life Nursery for a book signing and talk!
Saturday, January 30 - 10 am - 11 am
Award-winning Santa Barbara Landscape Architect Susan Van Atta, of Van Atta and Associates, will share and inspire using photos from of her artfully designed projects featuring California native plants. Her recent book: "The Southern California Native Flower Garden", will be available for sale, and Susan will be able to sign them. Review by Sharon Cohoon of Sunset Magazine.
The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn, by John Greenlee
Published by Timber Press
Ornamental grass expert, John Greenlee, has compiled a beautiful and inviting book advocating a completely different aesthetic from the traditional lawn. This book covers grasses from all over the globe, but many of our favorite local natives are featured as well. Though rather focused on grasses and a very "meadow" look, Greenlee's book advocates a similar message to ours, in that converting a traditional lawn into a more regionally appropriate garden is rewarding and beautiful. Want to learn how to Replace your Lawn?
Join us Saturdays at 10 AM this February for our four part workshop series. 
Build a Pond, Harvest Your Rainwater, Create a Native Plant Container and Replace Your Lawn in 2010!
Start off 2010 right and learn how to do some simple projects in your native garden this January. We are having three "How to..." talks about some exciting projects. Also, back by popular demand, we will be conducting our "Replace Your Lawn" Workshop series again this February, but this time in FOUR parts. Get details here.
We hope to see you here for one or all of these Workshops!
 This Saturday! January 9 - 10am - 11am
How to Build a Native Pond! Workshop
With their soothing sounds, sights, & scents, water features can make a garden come to life. Use the right combination of water-lovers and you’ll not only enjoy the plant life, you’ll be treated to an assortment of wildlife drawn to your water feature. Guest Speaker Bob Allen will discuss the proper selection of California native plants appropriate for a water feature, plus materials, sources, and simple techniques for assembly and care. A complete list of materials and sources will be provided so that you can build your own water feature at home and water-feature appropriate plants will be available for purchase at Tree of Life Nursery.
Saturday, January 16, 10am – 11am
How to Harvest Rainwater! Workshop
Come learn basic principles about how to harvest rainwater on your property. In dry climates like ours, rainwater is scarce and precious, so when it falls on your property, keep it in your garden! Gene Ratcliffe will speak about the active (rain barrel) and passive (earth works/shaping) ways to keep rainwater in the garden. Saving your roof runoff can increase the effective annual rainfall in your garden reducing your need to water, and environmental benefits include reducing storm water runoff.
Saturday, January 23 - 10am – 11am
How to Create a Beautiful Native Plant Container!
Tree of Life Nursery's Patty Roess will speak about how to create attractive containers using native plants, as well as appropriate maintenance techniques for long-term success. Create your own right here! Space, extra soil and some decorations (rocks, sticks) will be provided for you to assemble your own native plant container. Small plants and our beautiful clay pots will be available for sale.
Saturday, January 30 - 10am – 11am
Susan Van Atta Book Signing and Lecture
Award-winning Santa Barbara Landscape Architect Susan Van Atta, of Van Atta and Associates, will share and inspire using photos from her artfully designed projects featuring California native plants. Her recent book: The Southern California Native Flower Garden, will be available for sale, and Susan will be here to sign a copy for you. Gibbs-Smith publishing page for book. See our little review here.
All Saturdays in February at 10:00 AM
Replace Your Lawn FOUR Part Series
Build a Pond, Harvest Your Rainwater, Create a Native Plant Container and Replace Your Lawn in 2010!
Start off 2010 right and learn how to do some simple projects in your native garden this January. We are having three "How to..." talks about some exciting projects. Also, back by popular demand, we will be conducting our "Replace Your Lawn" Workshop series again this February, but this time in FOUR parts.
We hope to see you here for one or all of these Workshops! (Click on the titles for more details)
January 9 - 10am - 11am
How to Build a Native Pond! Workshop, with Bob Allen
Saturday, January 16, 10am – 11am
How to Harvest Rainwater! Workshop, with Gene Ratcliffe
Saturday, January 23 - 10am – 11am
How to Create a Beautiful Native Plant Container! Workshop, with Patty Roess
Saturday, January 30 - 10am – 11am
Susan Van Atta Book Signing and Lecture All Saturdays in February at 10:00 AM
Replace Your Lawn FOUR Part Series
Replace Your Lawn!
Back by popular demand, we are presenting our RYL workshop series in a special four part installment about the basics of converting your ecologically taxing and expensive lawn into a beautiful, carefree, sustainable habitat. The Replace Your Lawn workshops will run on Saturdays in February at 10 AM.
All of these workshops are FREE of charge and each session lasts about an hour and a half, (depending on questions!). Hopefully you will be able to attend each of the sessions at least once. No reservations are required.
Replace Your Lawn I: Kill Your Grass! - Saturday, February 6, 10:00 AM
Step one - get rid of it! This may be more involved than you would expect and the methods to get rid of a lawn are quite varied. You must identify the type of turf you have, research methods for removal, and then select the method appropriate for the season, your grass type, your work schedule and your budget. The future success of your new planting will depend on your successful removal of the existing turf.
Download the handout:
Replace Your Lawn: Kill the grass!
Replace Your Lawn II: Creating and Caring Your Native Garden
Saturday, February 13, 10:00 AM
Plan your landscape carefully before planting. Come learn how to choose a theme, and plan your garden for success with sound horticultural practices and an introduction to plant selection. Mike Evans will share from our booklet, "Creating and Caring for your Native Garden", that you can download here. Learn how to create a thriving native garden. 
Replace Your Lawn III: Design Elements
Saturday, Feb 20, 10:00 AM
Once you have removed, or reduced, the size of your lawn, it’s time to plant – right? Not necessarily. Thoughtful landscape design will save you time, money, and effort. Pat Overby will teach how to apply basic design principles to your native garden. Replace Your Lawn IV: Plant Selection, Thirty Plants
Saturday, February 27, 10:00 AM
After you have determined the look and feel you wish to achieve in your garden, the fun begins – plant selection! We will present a group of plants we call our Thirty Plants. These are the “must-haves” for any native California garden. This selection of thirty plants represents a handsome mix of the most authentic native plants for Southern California gardens. As we discuss the Thirty Plants, we will expand our knowledge of natives in general, and learn how to chose the right plants for any particular design theme.
Download the handout:
Thirty Basic California Native Plants
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