The Spring Garden Show transforms South Coast Plaza into a gardening sanctuary, featuring inspiring display gardens created by local landscape designers. The event from April 28 – May 1 also showcases a diverse and outstanding selection of garden tools and art from California vendors, children’s programs, an informative speaker series as well as an extraordinary floral centerpiece.

Back to Natives will promote native plant landscaping once again at the Show – it’ll be our 7th year! Two free “Native Plant Landscaping for Birds and Butterflies” seminars will be presented by BTN Executive Director Reginald Durant. The first will be presented on April 29 at 1:00p.m. in Williams-Sonoma and the second on April 30 at 11:30a.m. in west elm. Durant will show examples of beautiful, drought tolerant native plants that provide habitat for birds and butterflies.

Back to Natives will also have over 30 species of locally native plants available for sale at the Show. By gardening with native plants, you can bring the beauty California offers into your own landscape. 

“50% or more of the water we use daily goes on lawns and outdoor landscaping,” said Back to Natives Executive Director Reginald Durant. “Planting natives is one of the best ways for homeowners and businesses to help solve the crisis brought on by one of California’s worst droughts.”

Native plants help conserve water, eliminate the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and provide habitat for butterflies and birds. Many California native plants need minimal irrigation beyond normal rainfall. Saving water conserves a vital, limited resource and can also save money.

Plant sales will raise funds for environmental education and habitat restoration programs.

“We’re especially excited about our focus this year on habitat gardening for birds and butterflies,” said Back to Natives Education Director Lori Whalen.

Research tells us that native wildlife clearly prefer native plants. Native insect pollinators can increase the abundance of fruits and veggies in a food garden, while a variety of native insects and birds will help keep your landscape free of mosquitoes and plant-eating bugs. 

Whalen continues, “Our new partnership with the Monarch Joint Venture has inspired us to focus even more on host plants like milkweed that monarch caterpillars depend on, as well as a number of beautiful landscape quality nectar plants. Anyone can provide habitat in their yard – and have a beautiful garden – using locally native plants. ”

Join us at the South Coast Plaza Spring Garden Show to learn more about native plants or visit us at www.backtonatives.org.

We hope to see you there.  – Crystal Sayphraraj, BTN Communications Intern

Promote Biodiversity

In California, there are over 5,000 native plant species, more than in the central and northeastern US and Canada combined. More than 1500 of these plant species are endemic to (found only in) California, and most of these endemic species are found in Southern California. Southern California is one of the 25 global biodiversity “hotspots.” Hotspots are where the largest number of different species can be found, especially those species found nowhere else. More than 60 percent of the Earth’s total species live in hotspots, which cover only 1.44 percent of its surface. Orange County is “a hotspot within a hotspot”, with more native plant species per square mile than Yosemite National Park. Orange County has 806 species of native vascular plants. As the human population grows, many of Orange County’s open spaces are vanishing, and with it the native plants. By growing native plants in our gardens, we are restoring some of the natural biodiversity of our area. Many species are dependent on the habitat provided by native vegetation and taken in aggregate, home plantings can enhance the wildlife populations of an area.

Reduce the use of water

Native plants are adapted to the unique climatic conditions of their growing area and once established they require little or no supplemental irrigation. When we grow plants found in our resident plant community, we use far less water than traditional garden landscapes. Using drought tolerant natives in our California gardens conserves a scarce natural resource and saves money on water costs.

Reduce the use of pesticides

Many native plants are not severely effected by insect pests and diseases that afflict traditional ornamentals. Often, natives have adapted defense mechanisms to pests common in their habitats or have a high tolerance for pest damage. Eliminating pesticide use in the garden promotes biodiversity, reduces our exposure to toxic substances and saves money.

Enjoy a low maintenance garden

Spend more time enjoying your garden and less time maintaining it. Natives require less work at garden chores such as mowing, pruning, fertilizing and dividing. California native plants are adapted to a wide variety of growing conditions and fine native plant choices exist for virtually any garden environment. The biodiversity promoted by a native plant garden will reward the owner with satisfying experiences of discovery and observation, not only of the plants themselves, but a host of other species… birds, insects, mammals, etc. A good native plant garden complements the indigenous habitat and by growing plants found in our resident plant community, we bring in all sorts of nearby creatures dependent on that habitat. In a small but significant way, we as native plant gardeners begin to help secure a connection with the natural world that is infinitely more satisfying than mowing the lawn.