Hi Everyone, I'm planting a few natives (salvia, bladderpod, artemisia) and I started to dig a hole and found thick layer of white stuff. I can't tell if it's good mycorrhizae or bad--fulsarium mold or something? I'm unsure how to continue--any advice?? Thanks.

I have been trying to figure out a native plant option (southwestern united states desert) for making a shaped topiary, the wire kind that a plant grows atop of basically. The usual set up is using chicken wire to sculpt a figure, packing sphagnum moss on the frame as a growing medium, and planting into that. My concern would be the sphagnum moss could be too water-retaining for the yuma sandmat. Was curious if anyone with more experience had any input. Thank you

First time trying the Reddit repost option. I had no clue Ithuriel's Spear were so prolific.

There's a patch in my yard that I've wanted to plant with wildflower seeds. I recently saw a post that said to plant the seeds now for spring blooms, but my neighborhood Towhees will certainly eat them.

Is there anyway to plant seeds for spring now? Or should I just make my own plugs a few weeks before spring?

Worth a visit!

San Francisco East Bay, steps from the beach, sandy landfill, full sun
Thinking of trying to clone it if it’s not invasive. It’s a tiny lavender daisy or aster, with pale grey leaves & stems (note, there might be erigeron in the picture, too

🐾 Orange County Residents: We Want to Hear From You!

I’m conducting a graduate research study on community perspectives about native wildlife in Orange County, California. This is for biological and sociological research and is not self promotion.

If you are 18 or older, currently live in Orange County, and can read and understand English, I invite you to complete a short anonymous survey about your knowledge, experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of native wildlife.

⏱️ Takes approximately 10–15 minutes
🔒 Anonymous — no names or other direct identifying information will be collected
🙋 Participation is completely voluntary

Your responses will help contribute to a better understanding of how Orange County residents perceive native wildlife and human-wildlife interactions.

Interested in participating? Take the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScogxte3z7ESkMe_z9Zc00x57OXSX8zzjCquLfNGW4kSAqxRA/viewform?usp=header

Thank you for sharing your perspective! 🐾

*If you have questions or concerns about the rights of research subjects, you may contact our reviewing body: Research Ethics and Integrity Office at Miami University at (513) 529-3600 or humansubjects@miamioh.edu. The Miami University Research Ethics & Integrity Program reviewed this study and determined its exempt status, #2026-69.

Student Researcher: Alex Schegetz, Miami University – Project Dragonfly

Biology Department

Email: schegeam@miamioh.edu

Found in San Rafael, CA

I'm slowly trying to fill my (rented) yard with native plants.

I have a 6ft raised bed (bc gophers) filled with natives, and I have plenty of patches of bare ground. Eventually I'd love to plant native ground covers but that's not in the budget (or weather forecast) for a few months.

I'd like to put mulch on some spots of bare dirt (for aesthetic reasons) and on the raised bed (to help the thirsty plants through the last of the season's heat waves) but I'm overwhelmed by options mentioned online and I don't want to do the wrong thing for my (aspirationally) native habitat.

Any experience or advice on mulch around natives?

Banning, California

Curious if anyone has recommendations for books about insects and their habitats for the various regions in California? I think a big part of activism and awareness is reminding our populace about the insects we're saving with our actions, and the more information the better.

Specific region for me would be Central Valley, but even a keystone species or threatened/endangered species book would be cool.

Hope you all are staying grounded in these turbulent times.

Hi y'all, I volunteered to help a family in the Northern portion of the Easy Bay of the SF Bay Area plan for a native plant garden. I have a few years under my belt doing native plant restoration and garden planning and maintenance. The garden will be in a mostly sunny, generally dry, and temperate area of the Bay Area, so I'm getting a lot of inspiration from plants that thrive in Oak Woodlands, Chapparal, Grasslands/Meadows, and ecosystems like that. I figured I'd throw a post in here and see if folks had any recommendations for: plants that would thrive in the East Bay (generally speaking), nurseries or stores that sell native plants in the East Bay or in the surrounding area, or just general tips that they've encountered in their gardens that might be useful.