Boost Biodiversity in Your Garden and Community!

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Why does it matter?

Monarchs are on the brink of extinction, and there are hundreds of other species throughout California that are threatened with extinction as well. A few of these are pictured here, but a comprehensive list can be found at this link: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/CESA

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What are the issues?

Development, pesticides, herbicides and imported plants have eliminated or replaced the ecosystems that our native plants and animals need to survive. These species comprise a complex web that we humans rely on as well. There is so much we can do to help bring them back from the brink, and feel a sense of empowerment in the process.

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What can you do? Here are seven simple things you can do starting today!

1. Grow native host plants that feed hundreds of native butterflies and moths. Find the right plants for your zip code here: https://calscape.org/
2. Encourage caterpillars to consume leaves of native plants so that they can feed baby birds*
3. Grow native seeds, berries, nuts and fruits that feed adult birds and other animals
4. Leave the leaves, acorns and seeds on the ground around your plants to provide protection for butterfly and moth chrysalis and food for birds
5. Avoid pesticides and herbicides that damage the environment and human health as well
6. Join the California Native Plant Society and sign up for your local chapter - you’ll learn more about the plants that are native to your area: https://www.cnps.org/
7. Join the Native Plant Resource Teams and learn more about ways you can take action to bring back biodiversity in your garden and community: https://www.nativeplantresourceteams.net/ QR code for this handout:

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Check out the resource page on the back of this sheet to get started!

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*more about growing the plants that feed ecosystems (and baby birds)

can be found here: https://bit.ly/Tallamy-CAPlants

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Photo Credits: Monarch on Narrowleaf Milkweed © Erica Fleniken; Eastern Bell’s Vireo © Robin Gwen Agarwal;

California Dogface © ajanulaw; Bay Checkerspot © Michael Hawk (all Creative Commons CC-BY-NC on iNaturalist.org)

Resources to Build the Garden of Your Dreams!

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If you do just one thing, watch Doug Tallamy’s inspiring and entertaining call to action: https://bit.ly/Tallamy-CAPlants

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Check out the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) website here: https://bit.ly/CNPSChapters; and the Santa Clara Valley chapter’s gardening page: https://cnps-scv.org/gardening

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Find California native plants specific to your area, and the butterflies & moths that use them as host plants: Calscape.org

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Explore! Field Trips - Activities for adults and kids, indoors and out! https://bit.ly/Field-Trip-Ideas

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Spring Garden Tours and Year Round Resources:

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour (East Bay) www.bringingbackthenatives.net

Growing Natives Garden Tour (Santa Clara/San Mateo Counties) https://bit.ly/GrowingNatives-Tour

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Prioritize Keystone Plants – here are some resources:

Bringing Back the Natives Keystone Species Signs: https://bit.ly/Keystone-Plant-Signs

Video about California native keystone plants for sun: https://bit.ly/CA-Native-Plants-Sun-BBTN

Sun slide deck – a quick skim: https://bit.ly/KeystonePlants-SUN-4-2023

Video about California native keystone plants for shade: https://bit.ly/CA-Shade-Plants-BBTN

Shade slide deck – a quick skim: https://bit.ly/KeystonePlants-SHADE-4-2023

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Looking for more native seeds? Check out the great selection of native seeds and seed mixes at Larnerseed.com, klamathsiskiyouseeds.com, SeedHunt.com

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Need Plants? Find nurseries and plant sales at: https://bit.ly/CNPSnurseryList and at: https://bit.ly/BBTN-NurseryList

A few of my favorites are: CNLnatives.com, WatershedNursery.com, EastBayWilds.com, OakTownNursery.com

I also shop at: Summerwinds.com (Palo Alto); almadenvalleynursery.com

A few excellent ‘go to’ resource sites: https://bit.ly/XercesSociety, https://bit.ly/iNaturalist-Org

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Great books that can help you get started: https://bit.ly/Native-Plant-Butterfly-Books

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Seek answers to these questions (some of my favorite videos):

• Where to start? Juanita Salisbury shares some waterwise lawn alternatives: https://bit.ly/Lawn-Conversion-2021
• How can you restore nature in your garden? Dennis Mudd shares his insights: https://bit.ly/DennisMudd
• When should you plant, water, prune, or leave things alone? See: https://bit.ly/HelenPopper
• What planting methods and soil will ensure success: See: https://bit.ly/HavenKiers

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Questions? Email: Jennifer Dirking EcoGardenista@gmail.com

Blog: EcoGardenista.org Instagram: @EcoGardenista