Los Angeles Bird & Garden News

[Posted by Chuck Almdale]

The following is extracted from The Los Angeles Times, Saturday section, 20 February 2021.

The California Native Plant Society has a free and easy online tool to help you plan a native plant garden based on you ZIP Code, sun availability and goals for your yard. Answer a few questions and you’ll get a long list of suggested plants, along with their requirements for water, shade and types of pollinators they attract. https://www.calscape.org/

The camellias are blooming at Descanso Gardens. Now through the end of February is prime bloom time. Descanso has America’s largest collection of camellias, so put your ogling shoes on. Tickets are $15 for non-members, $11 seniors & students, $5 children 5-12, members free. Open 9-5 daily, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. https://www.descansogardens.org/

Bird Month at California Botanic Garden includes a chance for visitors to try to identify the many birds who thrive in the state’s largest botanic garden of California native plants (88 acres) at 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. The contest has prizes to the people who document the most bird species at the garden. Also a scavenger hunt. Open 8-5 Tues-Sunday. Non-members must buy tickets ahead of time online: $10 admission, $6 seniors 65+ & students, $4 children 3-12. All visitors over 2 must wear a face covering. https://www.calbg.org/

February 27, online Zoom class Habitat Gardening for Birds and other Pollinators, led by California Botanic Garden horticulturist Chip Grubbs. This one-hour class focuses on how to turn your garden into habitat attractive to birds, bees and other pollinators, the types of plants to grow and how to care for them. Starts at 11am. $25 fee, $20 for members. https://www.calbg.org/