If you plant it, they will come~

Butterfly Mint Bush, Monardella-antonina, 

Photo Courtesy of Las Pilitas Nursery

Here in Southern California gardeners experience unique challenges, drought being one, but there are joys as well, such as having hummingbirds that visit all year long.  If you want to attract more butterflies and hummingbirds and even native bees (which do not sting, BTW) to your garden, then you want to plant more flowers.  It’s as simple as that, really. And, if you like seeing flowers blooming, then this is a win-win for you: Plant them and they will come!

While our East Coast friends are blanketed in snow, their gardens asleep and requiring little care, here in Southern California we are somewhat obligated to keep our front yards looking tidy and vibrant--- all year long.  At the same time, after working in the garden we can enjoy sitting back in our favorite chair with a cold drink--- all year long.

To my mind, there is nothing more rewarding than watching pollinators move about my garden.  It means that I have planted enough nectar-rich native plants.  Butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees are all looking for nectar.  They zoom in on the splashes of color they spy down below in your yard, and close in to see if they can feast at your place today. I used to grow flowers just for the beauty and fragrance, but now I’ve found that adding wildlife to the garden scene makes it all the more interesting.

I recommend native plants and wildflower seeds. Why? Because native plants are naturally adapted to our climate, our soil, and our weather, so they require less water and little maintenance.

Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)

on Alpine sage (Salvia clevelanddii) 

Photo Courtesy of Las Pilitas Nursery

Attract Pollinators with Nectar Rich Wildflowers: Native wildflower seed mixes are a wonderful addition to your garden. They can be spread en masse for a sweeping meadow look, even replacing your lawn entirely, or they can be tucked into existing flower borders.  An interesting idea is to hand-sow wildflower seeds in pots or barrels and place them in sunny locations.  Their blooms will be unique from the usual big box store flowers we see everywhere.  And the pollinators will come.  For better success, you need to sow local native wildflowers, rather than a generic mix meant for the entire country. Native seed mixes are available for both Southern California’s coastal areas and for inland areas.

Attract Hummingbirds: The hummingbirds will thank you over and over again with repeat visits if you plant their beloved sage, aka Salvia.  Salvias are perennials that will stick around, growing larger year after year, filling out a garden bed and adding more flowers.   While there are many different varieties of sage, look for Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) with whorls of red flowers. Hummingbirds are attracted to these plants, with red being their favorite color. Hummingbird sage can be grown in garden beds, as a ground cover, or under trees.

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on
San Joaquin Willow Bush (Salix gooddingii)Location: Leo Carrillo State Park
 Photography by Kathy Vilim

Attract Monarch Butterflies: We should all add milkweed plants to our gardens for the monarch butterflies. I watch the monarchs sometimes on my walks, flitting about my neighbors’ yards, looking for that splash of color that means one thing: nectar, and looking for that special plant, the Milkweed (Ascelpias), that is the only plant they can lay their eggs on to raise the next generation (called a host plant).  When the young caterpillars emerge, they will devour the plant, consuming as many as 20 leaves each; it will be their food and their safety until they emerge as butterflies.  So, plant milkweed for the youngsters and a variety of nectar-rich flowers for the adults.   (Important: Plant the variety of Milkweed (Ascelpias) that is native to your region – NOT the Tropical Milkweed.  For most of us in Los Angeles, that would be the Narrow-Leaf Milkweed for coastal regions.)

Attract Native Bees: Having more bees in your yard is the answer to a flourishing vegetable garden. Native (wild) bees do NOT sting, so don’t be afraid to attract them. For an easy-to-grow bee magnet, plant the wonderfully aromatic Rosemary plant. Did you know this herb helps improve memory retention? Not remembering the past, but future-memory, remembering what you have planned for tomorrow! Anything that helps me with my To-Do List is a welcome addition to my garden.

Go Organic:  One more important thing to mention: Your garden will NOT support butterflies and other pollinators if you are spraying chemicals.

Resources: One source of native wildflower seeds is the Theodore Payne Foundation.  They also raise native plants, like Salvia and Milkweed.  http://store.theodorepayne.org/SFNT.html. For more resources on finding native plants, visit your local chapter of the Native Plant Society http://www.calscape.org/plant_nursery.php

Catching the California Currant

Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) with Anna’s Hummingbird

Photo courtesy of laspilitas.com

It is the Autumn season, and our thoughts turn to the harvest, putting the bounty of food on the table and being thankful for all we have. Yet, I find myself wondering among all this food: where are the native, wild, edible foods of California? It’s time for baking fruit and berry pies. Why not use native California berries? 

Turns out I need look no further than the Ribes family to find a family of wild, edible berry bushes that are native to California. Ribes berries are not only edible, but downright tasty. There are many Ribes species covering the state’s different types of climates and ecosystems, including Currants and Gooseberries. So, no matter where in California you garden, there should be a native species right for you. Ribes can be found throughout most of California.

If you are like me and are planning to grow more berry bushes in your California garden, this is a good time to get started. Autumn is a glorious time of year for gardening: temperatures begin to cool, days are shorter, and rains can begin to soften up the soil. 

Are you starting a wildlife garden? The birds in your garden will find Ribes tasty, too. Some of the birds that enjoy Ribes berries include: California Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, and the American Robin. When you plant Ribes, you welcome the birds to your garden. 

Golden Currant Berries, Ribes Aurem gracillimum, 

Photo Courtesy of Laspilitas.com

Golden Currants, Ribes aureum gracillimum:

Golden Currants make a tidy bush without thorns. A low-growing thicket about 6 ft wide and 3-6ft tall with three-lobed leaves, Ribes aureum has lots of sweet-smelling yellow tubular flowers that are popular with Hummingbirds. Golden Currant berries start out yellow and turn red as they ripen. 

Golden Currants are native to Southern Oak Woodland, Chaparral and Soft Scrub ecosystems, and grow along the coast ranges. In the canyons of Malibu they can cover entire canyon bottoms with their soft yellow color. It is also a good ground cover in tough conditions, such as under oak trees.

Berry-eating birds, like the California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), love the Golden Currant berries in late spring. Beautiful, as well as functional, Golden Currants provide a superior bird habitat. It is an excellent choice if you want to attract the California Thrasher to your wildlife garden.

The California Thrasher is a welcome friend in California all winter long. A non-migratory bird, California gardeners commonly see the Thrasher pecking around in leaf litter for insects with its long, curved beak. In December, the Thrasher can be found enjoying Toyon's bright red Christmas berries in the Chaparral.

Planting Currants will also bring hummingbirds into your garden in spring. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are all attracted to the blooms. Even Monarchs love the early spring flowers.  The Golden Currant is a forage source for many butterflies: the Tailed Copper Butterfly, Cloudy Copper, Zephyr Anglewing, and Oreas Anglewing.

Canyon Gooseberries (Ribes menziesii) Photo Courtesy of laspilitas.com

Canyon Gooseberry, Ribes menziesii:

Canyon gooseberry is a drought-tolerant shrub with maroon-purple and white flowers. This species has many forms that are native to the coast ranges of California up to Southern Oregon. This species is deciduous in summer; it will lose its leaves under heat or drought stress. If you water it in the summer, it will die of root rot, but you can water indirectly by planting it 10ft away from a lawn or garden flower bed. Ribes menziesii is great for a bird garden. Do not plant near walkways, as it likes to “catch” passersby.

White Flowering Chaparral Currant (Ribes indecorum)

Photo courtesy of www.laspilitas.com

White-flowered-currant, Ribes indecorum:

Extremely drought tolerant, the White-flowered Currant grows in Chaparral and Coastal sage scrub ecosystems throughout California, from Monterey to San Diego County. The White-flowered Currant can grow to 6ft tall. It is commonly found growing in the shade of large oaks, along seasonal creeks and on north or east slopes. It can survive a harsh (hot & dry) summer environment by going summer deciduous.  After the first rain, it comes out of dormancy. 

In February, the White-flowered currant will bloom white fragrant flowers, which are beloved by hummingbirds, bumblebees, moths and specific native bees. It is great in a bird garden, adjusts well to garden environments, and has tasty fruit.

The list of Ribes family members goes on and on, each providing edible wild berries for humans and birds alike, and acting as a magnet for bees & butterflies in the spring. You may not be used to gardening in late Autumn, but if you are ready to put on your gloves and do some digging in the wildlife garden, you couldn’t make a better choice than Ribes. 

This year, when you stop to be thankful for the harvest laid out upon your table, why not give your California garden a place at the table, too? The birds and the butterflies will thank you, over & over again~

Yoga in the Garden

                                photo credit Kathy Vilim, Topanga Canyon, California

Warrier 1, shifting to Warrier 2, moving through a Sun Salutation, my bare feet planted on my yoga mat…  I breathe in deeply.  Familiar smells from the canyon reach me – ocean breezes blow over Sage and through Eucalyptus – Even with my eyes closed, I know where I am.  I know this place by its familiar scents. And I find calm in that familiarity.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hummingbird appears right in front of my face!  He is hovering there in mid-air, looking at me, wings beating furiously fast, creating a sort of whirring noise.  I can’t help but laugh and, of course, lose my Warrier!  The hummingbird is there to tell me his feeder ran empty.  There is a pause in my practice as I look over at the empty feeder hanging from a tree in my garden, and I know I cannot ignore my winged friend.  I can afford to take a moment out for him – after all he and his buddies bring me so much entertainment with their antics over the course of the day. When I come back outside holding a full feeder of ruby-colored liquid, I find the hummingbird perched on a slender branch waiting patiently.  Really, I need not worry that he would starve – there are so many blooming plants for him here in my canyon garden. One of his favorites is the native: Nicotiana (or Tobacco Plant) with its long, yellow, tubular flowers.  No, the feeder is more a reflection of my own selfishness, wanting to keep him coming around to entertain me.

So How Do I Make a Yoga Garden Exactly? Read More Here

Published in Whole Life Magazine April/May 2017 Issue~

No More Cash for Fake Grass- Whole Life Times

Los Angeles Native Plant Garden Replaces Lawn
Sticky Monkey Flower, (Mimulus aurantiacus) Photo by Kathy Vilim

As published in Dec/Jan Issue of Whole Life Times (pg 9-10)


For years now, devoted native plant gardeners have been pleading with folks to "Ditch Their Lawns" in favor of landscapes with native plants that would attract bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators. When it comes to living ecosystems, there simply is no place for lawns.. they are dead-zones without insects needed to feed the birds... and without flower blooms to provide nectar to feed bees and butterflies. But people have been slow to come around to the concept of native plant gardening and the importance of a balanced ecosystem, despite discussions on all of the research out there.

But now, with the California drought going on its Sixth season, this is a perfect opportunity to revisit the subject.  There is now a monetary incentive for "Ditching Your Lawn". Besides saving money on your water bills when you cut back on water use, there are rebates available from the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (or the water agency where you live) when you remove traditional lawns and replace them with drought-tolerant native plants.

Unfortunately, due to the unexpected success of the Turf Removal Rebate Program, funding has dried up for most regions in California as of this writing. However the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (and also the City of Anaheim) are still accepting applications. To get an estimate for a turf removal rebate and get an application, visit this link

• https://mwdturf.conservationrebates.com/to apply and get a turf removal estimate

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's rebates have not gone away. However, in July the Board of Water and Power Commissioners voted to eliminate the rebate for plastic (artificial turf) lawn installation.  No more cash for fake grass. Why? They are still a water-wise move, you might say. But there are a few problems with them: besides plastic retaining heat, there is nowhere for the runoff of rain or irrigation to go.The garden's rainwater or irrigation water needs to soak into the ground, not go off to storm drains and the ocean. A drainage fix can be as simple as impressions dug around native plants, or smart use of decompressed gravel. Homeowners are encouraged to be proactive in saving any excess water by installing underground cisterns, although this is not necessary to be approved for rebates.

Under the new rules, in order to be eligible for lawn removal rebates, homeowners must show that their new yard will be at least 50% drought-tolerant plants. They must also limit their use of gravel. Both plastic lawns and gravel contribute to heating up the ground on sunny Southern California days.

Not sure what can be done? Put on your walking shoes and take a walk around your neighborhood. Seems everyone is getting in on the new lawn-less, drought-tolerant front yards. I highly recommend checking the California Native Plant Society's website, where they have a comprehensive list of plants that are native to your area, as well as contractor resources. It is important to get a contractor who really knows natives, as not all drought-tolerant plants are actually native to your area. Many plants that I see in all the new gardens are actually native to Australia, for example, as their climate is very similar to ours.  But, if you are going to re-do your yard, why not plant California plants instead of those from other places? Here, for example, is a list of popular natives in the Santa Monica/West Los Angeles area.

Another lawn replacement option is Native Grass & Wildflower Seeds. Few people realize that there are drought-tolerant, low-growing wildflowers and grasses that create a meadow-like look in the California garden. With native seeds, you can have a lawn and still be water wise. The DWP rebate program, does not allow for ANY turf, even if it is native and drought tolerant.  However, if you are replacing your lawn and are not applying for a rebate, this is another option for you. The Theodore Payne Foundation, in Sun Valley, is a tremendous source of native California wildflower seeds.

I applaud these additional rules by the Department of Water and Power. They show the discussions about maintaining healthy, living and balanced ecosystems in our gardens is alive and well. I look forward to the time when our gardens are recognized as ecosystems and folks welcome in the whole host of creatures that should be living there.

As published in Dec/Jan Issue of Whole Life Times (pg 9-10)