There is a new understanding of the importance of native plants in our environment, and the extraordinary role ordinary home gardens can play in “creating wildlife corridors that sustain populations of insects, birds and animals” ̶ The Importance of Native Plants, Fine Gardening, Julie Moir Messervy.
Visiting native plant gardens and bringing others along to witness their beauty and habitat value may be one of the most powerful individual efforts we each can make to entice and persuade our neighbors, colleagues, family, and even ourselves, to add more native plants to our gardens.
“...most native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plant species disappear or are replaced by alien exotics, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source of birds and other animals.” ̶ Prof. Doug Tallamy in his book Bringing Nature Home.
The Going Native Garden Tour (GNGT) is your opportunity to visit gardens featuring California Native plants, most of them private home gardens. Please come on the free tour and bring others with you! Visitor registration is open at www.gngt.org. Registering ensures that you will receive a few timely reminders and the ability to download the maps. The 50+ gardens are located throughout the Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties).
Sun May 05 @10:00AM - 02:00PM Calero Park Native Plant Hike (South San Jose) |
Mon May 06 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Fri May 10 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat May 11 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sun May 12 @10:30AM - 01:30PM Plant ID Walk at Alum Rock Park (East San Jose) |
Mon May 13 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Tue May 14 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Conservation Committee |
Thu May 16 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Propagating Native Plants at Home, a talk by Stanley Gu |
Fri May 17 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat May 18 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |