Master gardeners know: Fall is for planting California native plants

Right now, the landscape around Loomis Library and Community Learning Center is really buzzing. Where once there was only half-dead lawn, there’s now a wealth of wildlife – bees, birds, butterflies and more – making the most of an abundance of native plants.

How did they do it? Find out during the Placer County master gardeners’ Second Saturday Open House 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 14, at their Loomis Demonstration Garden. Admission is free.

Specifically highlighting those birds and bees, a free 1-hour workshop on “California Native Plants for Habitat Gardening” will be presented by the master gardeners at 10:30 a.m. that same morning. No advance registration necessary.

Still in its first year, the Demonstration Garden is on the grounds of the Loomis Library, 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.

All sorts of gardening questions are welcome during the open house, a chance to see the garden’s progress as well as get answers.

Covering about an acre, the new “UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Demonstration Garden” is packed with beautiful flowering plants that native wildlife needs for food and habitat. At the same time, the garden serves as a living example and outdoor classroom for local residents interested in saving water, time and money by putting the right plants in the right place.

“When I look at photos from a few months ago, I’m surprised by how much it’s grown!” says longtime Placer County master gardener and native plant expert Tece Markel, who helped select the many natives in the demonstration garden. “We picked all the plants with pollinator needs in mind. About 75 to 80 percent are natives.

“Definitely, wildlife has found the garden,” she adds. “We’ve seen so many bees, hummingbirds, even bluebirds. During our spring open house, we spotted two female Crotch’s bumble bees – they’re endangered. So, that’s exciting, too.”

The secret to the garden’s quick success? Planting at the right time.

Master gardeners know fall is the best time to add water-wise plants to your garden. Transplanted after weather starts to cool in fall, shrubs, perennials and trees have a chance to “get established” – develop deep roots – and make the most of winter rain. That prepares them to be “Summer Strong” for those dry days to come.

“There are big advantages to fall planting,” Markel explains. “It’s easier on plants. The soil temperature is still warm, but the air temperature is beginning to cool. Plants still get the sun exposure they need to put roots down. Then, they get (winter) rain and can really take off in the spring. That’s what we tried to do here.”

Planting in fall saves money, too.

“Our plants started in little 2- by 2- by 4-inch pots,” Markel observes. “In just a few months, they really caught up; they’re all bigger than if we had planted 1 gallon-size (plants).

“Fall is also the best time to plant native annuals,” she adds. “They’ll soak up that winter rain, germinate and bloom in the spring. They’re really popular with bees, too.”

In its first spring, the demonstration garden was abloom with California poppies and two varieties of clarkias (‘Red Ribbons’ and elegant clarkia), also known as farewell to spring.