Theodore Payne Foundation’s Native Plant Garden Tour (and a Chance to Win Tickets!)

In spite of all the hype surrounding El Niño this winter (Godzilla El Niño, no less), it’s been a disappointing season for Los Angeles weather-wise. We’ve had rain, but not as much as the weather models predicted. And so it looks like California will be heading into its fifth year of drought.

For Angelenos, keeping a garden green has been a challenge these last few years, but it’s even more disheartening to see people rip up their lawns, only to replace them with a rocky landscape. Rocks, while water-conscious, do nothing to support the local ecosystem that depends on plants for food and habitat. But plants need water, so we’re caught in a catch-22.

Or are we?

When we think of gardens, we typically think of all the colorful annuals that fill flower beds every spring. Beautiful, but thirsty and short-lived.

Then there are native plants, which are often overlooked but starting to gain popularity in our drought-prone gardens. Native plants are species that are indigenous to the region; they may have occurred naturally for hundreds of years, or they may have adapted over time to the climate. In California, it’s estimated that over 6,300 native species exist — each one specially acclimated to the state’s diverse topographies, climates, and soils.

Because of this, native plants fall into a natural rhythm with our seasonal cycles. They flourish in our native soils without fertilizers and other soil amendments, they have fewer pest problems because they’ve co-evolved with native insects, and they supply our native birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators with food and shelter. In fact, certain species of birds and butterflies endemic to the state survive solely on our native plants.

Most importantly for California, native plants use up to 80 percent less water than conventional gardens once they’re established.

As we’re firmly entrenched in drought, that makes a strong case for not filling your landscape with water-intensive flora… or rocks, for that matter.

I’ll be honest: I used to think native plants equaled brown and bland. I’d hike our brown hills in summer and see grasses and sages in a spectrum of khaki, with the occasional pop of color from the wildflowers. But when I started gardening, and volunteering at our local park, and learning about the incredible array of native plants from the Theodore Payne Foundation, I realized that native plants come in every color, texture, form, and aroma, from the brilliant orange blooms of our beloved California poppy to the fragrant purplish-blue flowers of California lilac. One can have a cottage garden or a contemporary garden full of native plants that require a minimum of maintenance.

If you’ve been pondering how to make your garden more pollinator-friendly as well as wallet-friendly, consider putting in native plants. And next month, you can learn how!

On April 2 and April 3, 2016, the Theodore Payne Foundation is hosting their annual Native Plant Garden Tour in Greater Los Angeles. The tour is a self-guided journey through 41 inspiring gardens that show native plants existing in harmony with our local wildlife, soil, and climate.

Gardens in Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, and South Bay will open to the public on Saturday, April 2, while gardens in San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley will open on Sunday, April 3. You’ll be able to meet the homeowners, designers, and docents at each of the gardens, tour their landscapes, learn about the plants, even pack a picnic to enjoy in their spaces.

All native plants are labeled on the tour, and many of the gardens utilize recycled materials, water catchment systems, and other features unique to the sites. You’ll learn how to convert lawns to native landscapes, address challenges like steep slopes and shady corners, create habitats for birds and butterflies, and plant beautiful gardens that incorporate edibles, containers, raised beds, no-mow meadows, and sustainable water features. While some of the spaces are professionally designed, many are a labor of love and built on a budget.

And did I mention that you can actually hang out in these gardens and enjoy them all day? The homeowner I met in Manhattan Beach, where these pictures were taken, said that on previous tours, people actually brought books and lunches! With such an open and friendly atmosphere, it’s sure to be a wonderful weekend for all.

Thanks to the Theodore Payne Foundation, I have three pairs of tickets to give away to Garden Betty readers!

The “tickets” include your official guide to the 2016 Native Plant Garden Tour, containing the addresses of every public and private garden on the tour, plus a pin that gains you entrance into each garden.

How to enter: Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me what’s going on in your garden this spring, or how the tour may inspire it! This giveaway is open to all in the Greater Los Angeles area, or anyone who plans to visit on those dates.

The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, March 11, 2016. Three winners will be drawn at random and announced the following week. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules

1. Giveaway begins March 7, 2016 and ends March 11, 2016.
2. No purchase is necessary. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post.
3. Only US residents ages 18 and older are eligible to enter.
4. One entry allowed per person.
5. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received.
6. Winners will be drawn at random.
7. If winner does not respond within 48 hours after time of contact, that entry will be forfeited and a new winner will be drawn.

By the way, the tour recently lowered its ticket prices and is now offering a Drought Special:

• Single tickets: $25 for members and students, $30 for non-members
• Pair of tickets: $40 for members, $50 for non-members

Visit their site to learn more, and please share with your friends. The tour supports a great organization dedicated to a great cause!

Theodore Payne Foundation is providing the tickets for this giveaway. No compensation was received for this post.

Update: A big thanks to everyone who entered!
This giveaway is now closed. The winners are Kari, Angie, and Jayne.