NATURAL WONDERS : WITH PERFECT COMBINATION OF ISOLATION, BENIGN NEGLECT, NATIVE VEGETATION THRIVES WHERE SHRINKING VIOLETS DARE NOT GO.Byline: Joshua Siskin Chris Van Schaack has carved a bare-bones life out of the Santa Susana chaparral. He lives in a 50-year-old refurbished Quonset hut, an army surplus item from World War II, surrounded only by native plants. His meticulous planting of natives extends to his entire property, around an art studio and nursery in the hills above the Chatsworth Reservoir. And not just natives - Van Schaack, 39, uses only natives specific to the area stretching from the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. to the reservoir. ``People should stop and smell the sagebrush sagebrush, name for several species of Artemisia, deciduous shrubs of the family Asteraceae (aster family), particularly abundant in arid regions of W North America. The common sagebrush (A. ,'' Van Schaack said. In the chaparral that surrounds the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , wild vegetation survives on little moisture and a minimum of soil organic matter. It is the same vegetation that holds the slopes around Los Angeles; when it is burned or otherwise disturbed, mudslides result. So, too, you get the feeling that Van Schaack and people like him, for whom material things are pretty immaterial, hold the world in place. Without them, the planet Earth might slide down a slippery slope. These are not plants that knock your socks off with nonstop neon color. But they do bloom, throughout the year, in every color that the rainbow has to offer. ``Native plants are practical,'' said Rocky Moss, who is in charge of native seed sales for the Theodore Payne Foundation  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . , a nonprofit organization in Sun Valley devoted exclusively to natives. ``They are already adapted to our climate. They are water-efficient. Since they have been living here for thousands of years, they are resistant to local pests and diseases and, unlike conventional landscape ornamentals, they can fight off pests introduced from other places. ``Although most of us, or our parents, came to California from somewhere else, native plants connect us to the land and give us a heritage, a natural history, in which we can all share.'' Enhance the environment And natives have other advantages. ``In addition to their drought-tolerant properties, native plants enhance the environment by attracting wildlife,'' said Joni Clayton, manager of Mockingbird mockingbird: see mimic thrush. mockingbird Any of several New World birds of a family (Mimidae) known for their mimicry of birdsong. The common, or northern, mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) can imitate the songs of 20 or more species within 10 Nursery in Riverside. Van Schaack has a variety of the maroon monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus var. rutilus), a currently blooming perennial, that is found nowhere else in the Los Angeles area. Woolly blue curls, also flowering now, has flowers that appear more violet than blue. It is also a perennial but somewhat difficult to culture - a challenge worth taking because of its unmatched blooms. For the shade, Van Schaack recommends hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), with its crimson flowers, and the canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesoides). The gooseberry/currant genus (Ribes) is represented by some of the most spell-binding natives. Golden currant currant, northern shrub of the family Saxifragaceae (saxifrage family), of the same genus (Ribes) as the gooseberry bush. The tart berries of the currant may be black, white, or red; the white gooseberry becomes purple when mature. (Ribes aureum gracillimum) has ornamental scalloped scal·lop also scol·lop or es·cal·lop n. 1. a. Any of various free-swimming marine mollusks of the family Pectinidae, having fan-shaped bivalve shells with a radiating fluted pattern. b. leaves, yellow flowers and tasty fruit. The chapparal currant (Ribes malvaceum) has pink flowers and mallow-type foliage. Most memorable, though, is the fuchsia-flowered gooseberry gooseberry: see currant. gooseberry Hardy fruit bush of the Northern Hemisphere, often placed in the genus Ribes with the currant (or alternatively assigned to the genus Grossularia as its sole member), in the family Saxifragaceae. (Ribes speciosum), with tear-drop flowers and verdant, dark green leaves. An excellent filler of empty garden spots is the California fuchsia fuchsia: see evening primrose. fuchsia Any of about 100 species of flowering shrubs and trees in the genus Fuchsia (family Onagraceae), native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America and to New Zealand and Tahiti. (Epilobium californica). Possessing red flowers and usually in bloom, it works its way through the landscape nonchalantly yet noninvasively. Although it self-sows reliably, its roots are shallow and it will never interfere with the growth of other plants. Silver lotus (Lotus argophyllus) is a plant deserving wider use that Van Schaack grows from seed. He has it planted on the gentle slopes that encircle en·cir·cle tr.v. en·cir·cled, en·cir·cling, en·cir·cles 1. To form a circle around; surround. See Synonyms at surround. 2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of. his house. The luminescent lu·mi·nes·cent adj. Capable of, suitable for, or exhibiting luminescence. [Latin l  men, l foliage and clear yellow flowers of the silver lotus make it a ``must have'' low-growing selection for any perennial garden. Plants that defy gravity Pricky prick·y adj. prick·i·er, prick·i·est Prickly. phlox phlox, common name for plants of the genus Phlox and for members of the Polemoniaceae, a family of herbs (and some shrubs and vines) found chiefly in the W United States. (Leptodactylon californica) is a captivating cap·ti·vate tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates 1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm. 2. Archaic To capture. annual with pink flowers and mildly prickly shoots. Van Schaack has found it as rewarding as it has been difficult grow. Of dozens of seeds planted, he feels fortunate to have seen two or three germinate and grow to maturity. Prickly phlox is unmistakable to those traveling through Bouquet Canyon in Santa Clarita; it grows on the most precipitous slopes, clinging to rock faces in defiance of gravity itself. Lovers of succulents will be attracted to the chalky leafed live-forevers (Dudleya lanceolata and Dudleya pulverulenta). Van Schaack has a batch of them for sale at his nursery, which is located on the other side of a stream that runs through his property. ``As far as culture, you never want to water natives during periods where you have warm night temperatures, because that is a sure way of killing the plants,'' Van Schaack said. ``Soil fungus thrives under those conditions.'' Van Schaack's Tarweed tarweed, any of several related resinous herbs (chiefly species of Hemizonia and Madia) of the family Asteraceae (aster family), having strongly scented and sticky herbage. Nursery, open by appointment, can be reached by calling (818) 888-2318.The Santa Susana tarplant (Heizonia minthornii) has fragrant leaves and yellow flowers; it has been adopted by Van Schaack as a kind of botanical mascot. Tip of the Week: Van Schaack grows most of his perennials from seed. He has gone through a lot of frustration trying to propagate from cuttings. If you insist on growing California natives from cuttings, he recommends rooting them in straight perlite perlite or pearlstone Natural glass with concentric cracks such that the rock breaks into small, pearl-like bodies. It is formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava or magma. - that spongy spongy /spon·gy/ (spun´je) of a spongelike appearance or texture. spong·y adj. Resembling a sponge in appearance, elasticity, or porosity. white, pelletized volcanic rock found in potting mixes but available, by itself, in small bags at any garden center, Keep cuttings in the shade until they are well rooted. California native plant societies Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Message: (818) 881-3706 Channel Islands P.O. Box 5628 Ventura, Calif. 93005 Rick Burgess: (805) 983-1312 San Gabriel Mountains San Gabriel Mountains, S Calif., E and NE of Los Angeles, running c.50 mi (80 km) westward from Cajon Pass. San Antonio Peak (10,080 ft/3,072 m) is the highest of the range. Citrus fruits are raised on the southern foothills. Becky Rothenberg: (818) 797-2494 Riverside/San Bernardino counties Marty Jacobsmeyer: (909) 683-4637 Wildflower wildflower Any flowering plant that grows without intentional human aid. Wildflowers are the source of all cultivated garden varieties of flowers. A wildflower growing where it is unwanted is considered a weed. Show/Native Plant Sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29-30 Michael Landon Center 24250 W. Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway may refer to:
(310) 317-1364 Nurseries El Nativo Growers Inc. Azusa (818) 969-8449 Matilija Nursery Moorpark (805) 523-8604 Mockingbird Nursery Inc. Riverside (909) 780-3571 Santa Susana Tarweed Nursery Chatsworth (818) 888-2318 Theodore Payne Foundation Sun Valley (818) 768-1802 Local publications featuring native plants ``Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Coastal & Chaparral Regions of Southern California,'' by Nancy Dale (California Native Plant Society) ``Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains,'' by Milt McAuley (Canyon Publishing Co.) ``Native Shrubs of Southern California,'' by P. Victor Peterson (University of California Press "UC Press" redirects here, but this is also an abbreviation for University of Chicago Press University of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. ) ``Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains,'' by Peter Raven, Henry J. Thompson and Barry A. Prigge (Southern California Botanists) ``Key to Coastal and Chaparral Flowering Plants of Southern California,'' Barbara J. Colins (Kendall/Hunt) Helpful lists: Recommended List of Native Plants for Landscaping in the Santa Monica Mountains (California Native Plant Society) Santa Monica Mountains & Southern California Flora Checklists, by Bob Muns (available from Theodore Payne Foundation/CNPS/Tarweed Nursery) Native plant gardens and outlets Theodore Payne Foundation Sun Valley (818) 768-1802 Nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to natives; large displays of native plants, nursery, wildlife hotline Descanso Gardens La Canada (818) 952-4400 Arboretum with native plant area Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden Claremont (909) 625-8767 Arboretum devoted to natives Soka University Botanical Center Calabasas (818) 878-3741 Garden of Santa Monica Mountain natives; free tour 10-11 a.m. April 1 California Native Plant Society Reseda (818) 881-3706 Disseminates information about natives; sponsors native plant sales Botanical gardens Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens 1212 Mission Colony Road Santa Barbara, Calif. 93105 (805) 682-4726 Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 86 acres (34.8 ha) is a botanical garden dedicated to native Californian plants. It is located at 1500 North College Avenue in Claremont, California, USA, just south of the San Gabriel foothills. 1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, Calif. 91711 (909) 625-8767 Conejo Valley Botanic Garden P.O. Box 1382 Thousand Oaks, Calif. 91358 (805) 494-7630 (directions/information) CAPTION(S): 5 Photos, 4 Boxes Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Wild Things Subtly beautiful native vegetation that thrives with little care (2--Color) Hummingbird sage, recommended for shady areas, will reward you with crimson flowers. (3--Color) The prickly phlox, with its pink flowers and ability to prosper on steep slopes, is difficult but rewarding to grow. (4--Color) A variety of the maroon monkey flower is currently blooming on Chris Van Schaack's property. The perennial is found nowhere else in the Los Angeles area. (5) The canyon sunflower is another native plant recommended for shady spots. Phil McCarten/Daily News Box: (1) California native plant societies (See Text) (2) Nurseries (See Text) (3) Local publications featuring native plants (See Text) (4) Native plant gardens and outlets (See Text) |
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