Two dishes from over a dozen I have filled with found jade, representing several years and many hours of lazy beachcombing on the Big Sur coast. Now that I think about it, we had no cell phones back then.
Hmmm. A message here?
MARCH 2026-03 Volume 1, Number 3
Words and photos by Mike Evans
Most of California is enjoying predictably beautiful spring weather, though parts of the state, especially in the southern portion, received nice rains but virtually no cold weather.
Current events, history, review, and notes
Rainfall totals to date reflect measurements considered “average.” At our office in San Juan Capistrano, we have logged 15.65 “ for the season, slightly above average, especially considering we have a few more weeks for rain potential. We have excellent ground moisture, as the rains came in intervals that allowed for good soaking. Sunny days are bringing lots of flowers and everything is still green.
In the News
CNHF is honored to partner with the ENC, Environmental Nature Center on a series of eight workshops to be held this year, beginning Sunday March 29. Please register at encenter.org
Thank you ENC for making this happen for including us. Together we will make it a meaningful experience, helping people connect to nature in their own gardens, their school gardens, and their communities. Love the title.
Native horticulture this month
March is one of the most vibrant and active months for horticulturists tending their natural gardens.
Watering
Since we are still in the midst of a good rain year, the soil is still moist in most areas, and a Deep Soak (DS) is probably not needed yet. Watch the weather forecast. If the day has been particularly hot or dry, feel free to do a Refreshing Sprinkle (RS) in the afternoon. If you followed “This Month in the Natural Garden,” the monthly newsletter from Tree of Life Nursery, you are familiar with the DS + RS + Success Method. If not, stay tuned. A thorough description in a couple months when it becomes relevant. (You can also look it up at californianativeplants.com
Pruning, Weeding, Feeding, Mulching / Top Dress
All of the above. Plants are actively growing, the soil is starting to warm, days a getting longer, you can stay busy in the garden with any number of enjoyable activities.
Leave the leaves. We all know why.
Troubleshooting – Varmints, Pests and Diseases
With so much new growth and sunny spring days upon us, look out for aphids, leaf hopper, psyllid, scale, and mealybug, all very small injurious plant pests with a sucking mouth part. If left for long, their excretion )honeydew) will grow sooty mold (black stains on the leaves) and attract Argentine ants. If you have ants on your plants, you have aphids or one of the above insects, for there is no other reason an Argentine ant will climb into the branches.
Adding plants and seed
March is always a great month for adding native plants to your garden. We’re getting a little late for seed, but if you sow right away, you might have success with wildflowers if we don’t get too hot too early this year.
A random hybrid Ceanothus at Tree of Life Nursery. Look like it may have C. cyaneus in it.
My Patio Re-wild (small space)
To make a small space seem larger, look to diversity. Mounds, boulders, rocks, pebbles, stick. Biodiversity is exemplified through a large number of plant varieties creating esthetic interest ans well as high value wildlife habitat.
Variety and diversity bring beauty and value to a small garden space.
Phytophilia
Our love for plants and their reciprocal response. Or is it plants’ love for us and our reciprocal response?
What are the plants saying? I believe I hear an open invitation, “Come on in.” Springtime is a great time to get personal with nature, especially through plants, in wild places or in our gardens. So as soon as you finish this monthly newsletter, close the computer and go outside. As I sit here typing I hear the plants. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” I reply.
Re-wild Principles
Choosing the Right Plants
A garden puts living art on display. The parts that are alive are the plants, and choosing the right ones, combining them in a creative design, and planning for long-term success, make the choices, the combinations, and the plans an exciting, and at times daunting challenge.
What to plant, that is the question… Keep reading on calnativehort.org click on Clippings #5
Important Review
15.65” and counting
ENC/CNHF Workshop Series
March lots to do
Aphids and their kin plus ants
Plant yes, Seed maybe
Come on in
Choosing the Right Plant
Engage
“‘We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” Aldo Leopold
Why does this make so much sense to some of us while it makes no sense to others?
Perhaps therein lies the problem.
Baby buzzworm. Never been too fond of these guys. Just a reminder to look around out there, as this is the season when rattlesnakes are making their way back out into the sun.
From MARCH CalNativeHort CONNECT,
I think we’re gonna be OK.
Mike Evans
Questions? Help is just one call or one email away. connect@calnativehort.org
