These days I’m finding myself being drawn more to the native California landscape. Since I’m from the east coast where gardens are much different, and because I also love the look of the English style cottage garden, I was constantly trying to replicate some smaller version of that at home. But but this year I switched gears. I started to incorporate native plants, spend more time learning about them and introduce them into my garden. The Oak Woodland and California Native Garden at Descanso have a completely different kind of beauty and I am seeing it through different eyes. I recommend taking a walk through them and I guarantee you will fall in love with our California landscape.
As the wheel continues to turn, August 1st marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. At this time of year, my home garden is full of blooming flowers and an abundance of butterflies. It’s a beautiful time of year and I’ve been blessed by the nature spirits with a modest, but healthy wildlife habitat for hummingbirds, butterflies and other critters who have been enjoying the garden. With Lughnasadh only a few days away, I paid a visit to my favorite magical garden, Descanso. I walked down the promenade and made a quick pass through the rose garden. But I spent most of my time in my favorite section, the native plant the garden. Here is where you can best appreciate the warm tones of summer with the buckwheats starting to brown and the intoxicating fragrance of sage. I also found many spider webs nestled in the trees. It is this time of year when I usually begin to see more intricate webbing in the oaks. They know the days are slowly beginning to shorten, and although it is still hot, the summer will soon be coming to a close.
We've now reached the peak of the solar year. The wheel is turning and the days, although warmed by the power of the sun will gradually become shorter as it begins to wane. For those in tune with nature, we hear her whispering her promise to return to darker days. But there is plenty to celebrate at this time. The natural world is full of activity. Butterflies and bees grace our blooming gardens and the earth changes her colors to shades of golden yellow, bright orange and soft, sable brown. Summer is in full swing and there is much time to be spent outdoors enjoying the warmth of the sun by day and gazing at the endless stars in the night sky.
I arrived just after 8 am Saturday morning at Descanso. I was going to walk to the promenade and into the rose garden since I hadn’t been there in a while, but changed my mind and decided to walk the grassy meadow at the edge of the oaks instead. I’m glad I changed my path. I wasn’t there longer then 5 minutes and saw a California Sister warming its wings in the morning sun. It was a lot warmer then usual this morning and that made it a great time to be able to see some butterflies! Most of the time I’m in and out before it warms up, and the butterflies are just waking up as I’m leaving. Today was an exception. After spending time watching the California Sister, I headed along my usual path up the hill and into the California natives section. Along the trail I noticed some silk on thistle. I recently learned that the Painted Lady caterpillar spins silk, so when I stopped to observe, sure enough there was a caterpillar inside. It’s so exciting now that I’m learning more about butterflies, caterpillars and their natural habitats what I’m able spot. Before taking an interest in all of this I would have probably walked right by not even noticing. It was a beautiful sight to see that caterpillar munching away inside the silk backlit by the morning sunshine! As I continued along my journey I stopped by Cleveland Sage to observe Duskywings. I didn’t get a photo, as they weren’t still for very long so I just enjoyed watching. A few feet away I saw a very tattered Cabbage White. I think this was a male, as it appeared to only have one spot. Next, I walked down the hill and stopped for a moment by a red fairy duster that I’d walked past a million times never really giving it much attention. But after learning what a butterfly magnet this plant is and also picking one up for my own garden from the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, I decided to stop and see what I could observe. The red fairy duster was full of bees and tiny Marine Blue butterflies about the size of my thumbnail. There was a lot of activity going on here. I managed to get a few shots of the little Marine Blues when they were busy nectaring. By this time it was about 9:30 am and more people were starting to arrive, so I decided it was time to head out. Nature never ceases to amaze me with how much there is to constantly see and learn about her. No matter how many times I visit Descanso, no two days are ever the same. There is always something new to see, to learn and to observe. Nature is constantly changing. It was a wonderful morning.
Woke up to a very cloudy morning with some slight drizzle. I’d already planned on going back to the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants to pick up a few more items for my butterfly garden and also take another trek up Wild Flower Hill. Along the nature trail all the plants are tagged with their names, so it’s a It’s a great way to learn about them. After a short hike up the hill, I spent some time in the nursery contemplating what additions to add to my garden. I came home with a few selections: red fairy duster, aster chilensis 'point saint george' and verbena lilacina. I’m sure the butterflies are going to enjoy them! Here are some images from my short hike today.
This weekend was the weekend to celebrate native plants! On Sunday, I visited the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. This garden is the largest largest botanic garden dedicated to California native plants. It also hosts a butterfly pavilion. The grounds were full of wildlife activity, the buzzing of bees and the melody of birdsong as I explored the winding paths through desert, chaparral and pine forest. At 10 am the butterfly pavilion opened up. (Butterflies sleep in until the sun gets warm… smart!) There I was able to view close up and personal some of the many butterflies of California such as our state’s insect the California dogface. Here are some of the images from my visit.
This past weekend I visited the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants. It’s a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and use of California native flora. The Foundation preserves the lifetime work of Theodore Payne who was a horticulturist and conservationist. He is considered to be the founding father of the native plant movement in California.
At my home I have a garden dedicated to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. One of the biggest complaints I’ve had since starting my garden is that it can be difficult to find native plants at the local garden center. Nowadays plants are bred to be showy. They look lovely with their double flower heads and sound charming with their fancy names, but these varieties have been cultivated by breeders and you would never find them growing naturally in nature. Tampering with a native plant can comprise the benefit it has for wildlife. For example, a flower that has been cultivated with a double flower head will make it difficult or perhaps even impossible for a butterfly or bee to get to the nectar or pollen. The Foundation was the answer to my problem! The retail nursery at the Foundation has the largest selection of California native plants in the region. What a better way to sustain my butterflies, bees and hummingbirds then with the beautiful native California flora!
After perusing the nursery and purchasing some great additions for my garden. I made my way up Wild Flower Hill. You can gain access to this ¾ mile nature trail from the nursery. The trail takes you on a journey through the common plants we have here in our area, and it is also home to an abundance of wildlife and birds. Here are some of the images from my trek.
Spring and Summer are my favorite time of year to explore the California Native section of Descanso Gardens. This garden was designed by Theodore Payne, an English horticulturist, landscape designer and botanist. The California Natives Garden hosts the majestic Matilija poppies as well as sticky monkey flowers, sacred datura, California poppies, woolly blue curls, California buckwheat, and Cleveland sage just to name a few. There is always something new to learn and discover here.
This weekend I visited the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. My favorite part is their abundant herb garden which also serves as a pollinator habitat. Each time I visit I'm in awe of all the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies I see. It also hosts an impressive display of scented pelargoniums. You can imagine the wonderful fragrance walking through. On my walk today I came upon a turtle warming himself in the morning sun. It's not often I come upon a turtle and lucky for me, he was content to continue enjoying the sunshine while I snapped a few photos.
I was also super excited to see that one of the butterfly hubs is now an official Monarch Waystation! Monarch Waystations are places that provide the necessary resources to help sustain the monarch butterfly population. I have a butterfly garden of my own and so it's was very inspiring.
Descanso is always so peaceful in the rain. It's actually my favorite time to go. I enjoyed watching a family of geese take their goslings for a swim in the quiet of the early morning hours.
Tomorrow is Beltane and we are now about halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. I was missing the desert, so I took a little walk around the cacti in the California Natives section. The Desert Marigolds were blooming and also the Sacred Datura which I saw a lot of in Joshua Tree last weekend. The California Poppies and some wildflowers are still blooming and now the matilija poppies have started to open. There is a lot of wildlife out and about, and I took a few photos of this squirrel enjoying some breakfast in the sun.
What can be more beautiful then gazing into a field of wildflowers; a myriad of colors, shapes and as I like to describe it, “harmonious chaos”. Wildflowers can be found anywhere from cracks in the pavement to deep within the forest to the blazing hot desert, all surviving without the help of human beings. In California people travel for miles each year just to see the California poppy reserves. We flock to our deserts in the spring to experience the hypnotic beauty of our native desert wildflowers. I had the opportunity to experience the wildflowers here locally at the Crescent Farm at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. They have created a beautiful meadow bursting with colorful native wildflowers. Spending time in quiet contemplation with wildflowers is a transcendent and uplifting experience. You can’t help but feel their rejuvenating, energetic vibrations. Here are some photos from my experience this past weekend.
The rose garden is turning into a kaleidoscope of candy colors, and the morning air is heavy with fragrance. It’s also wildflower season and the garden is filling up with more and more blooms every day. The weather could not have been more perfect for an early morning hike.
Deer are a symbol of grace, gentleness, love and kindness. They are a significant part of mythology and folklore. According to Ina Woolcott, Shamanic Journey, “When a deer totem enters your world, a new innocence and freshness is about to be awakened. New adventures are just around the corner and there will be an opportunity to express the gentle love that will open new doors for you.” I see many deer in my early morning walks at Descanso. I always enjoy stopping to watch them graze and walk along the hillside.
We are now in the month of April and Beltane (May day) is fast approaching. Opposite of Samhain when we honor the spirits of the dead, we now celebrate the living; plants, animals and all the new life springtime has set into motion. The veils between worlds are at their thinnest, and if you look carefully, you might just catch a glimpse of the fae frolicking about the ferns or dancing atop the forget me nots. Believe what you will, but this time of year my camera lens captures some very interesting light; rainbows, colorful orbs. Could it be the fae, nature spirits? I’ll leave it up to you.
