
Mission Statement We exist to support the cultivation and enjoyment of Native Plants within northwest San Diego County and to provide community education on the benefits of Native Plants. The Buena Vista Native Plant Club was formed to support a $70,000 grant that was given to the City of Oceanside and the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center. The grant is funded by the Metropolitan Water District, which is promoting lower water use through native and drought tolerant landscaping. The City, Audubon, and the Fish&Game Department joined forces for an opportunity to showcase natives as the landscape of choice. The site has been divided into 4 main gardens: two were designed and installed by the The Buena Vista Native Plant Club (us!) and two were designed and installed by the City. Overall, it has been a very collaborative effort. The Buena Vista Native Plant Club is now a recognized resource for north county native plant gardeners. We continue to meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month at the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 S. Coast Hwy, Oceanside.
		What is a Native Plant Garden? Our coastal hillsides are covered with plants that some people call weeds, but anyone who takes time to learn about these "weeds" soon finds a vast number of attractive and interesting native species that would make great additions to their gardens. San Diego Coastal Sage Scrub rivals the rainforest for the diversity of plant and animal life! The BVAS native plant garden is a small scale demonstration habitat that showcases these native species and increases our understanding of the world as we observe the web of life in action. Island Mallow Native plants are those plants that have evolved here, not those introduced by man. When a plant has been introduced within the past few hundred years, the necessary adaptations haven't had time to occur. Often native species are lost as the new plant takes over. Pampas grass is an example of an introduced plant. It does not provide food or shelter and has destroyed native areas. Isn't it Hard to Maintain? Native plant gardens are easier to maintain than ornamental gardens once you understand them. The plants rest during Summer/Fall and grow in Winter. If native plants are watered in the late summer, the dormant season is interrupted and harmful bugs and microbes continue to multiply. It is best to let the garden dry out for one month during August. The growing season starts with the rains in October. Pruning is twice a year in January and August. *Recommended Reading* The California Landscape Garden: 'ECOLOGY, CULTURE AND DESIGN' By Mark Fransis and Andreas Reiman Growing California Native Plants: By Marjorie Schmidt Roadside Plants of Southern California: By Thomas J. Belzer Southern California Native Plant for School Gardens: By Betsy Landis California's Changing Landscape: By Barbour et.al. *Need Professional Help?* Click HERE for a list of native plant landscape designers who have volunteered at our native plant tour. Everyone on this list is well known and very capable with native plants. *Additional Reference Sources* For more information, the following links will guide you in the right directions... California Native Plant Club www.CNPS.org San Diego chapter of CNPS www.CNPSSD.org Tree of Life Nursery www.TreeofLifeNursery.com California Invasive Plant Council www.cal-ipc.org Las Pilitas Nursery** www.laspilitas.com Natives Provide Color and Variety Marsh Fleabane This beautiful native plant sprang up on its own all around the BVAS Nature Center after the invasive non-native species were removed.		Events Calendar We invite you to join our friendly group to talk, share, garden, and learn at our regular “Third Sunday” meetings at the Nature Center. Native Plant Club Summer Schedule Third Sunday Every Month, 2 p.m. June 21 — Come See the Blooms! We have a fantastic collection of plant photos. We'll go through the archives and talk about any plant you want to discuss. July 19 — Fire Season Gardening. The rains have stopped and fire season is in full swing. A firefighter who loves native plants will help us learn how to protect our homes. We'll watch the Rick Halsey chaparral video and then discuss his book "Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California", 2005, published by Sunbelt. August 16 — Winter in August? If you are still thinking like an Easterner, it is time to learn the true seasons. Plants are going dormant and we need to start pruning. Bring gloves and tools. For more info, e-mail Joan Bockman at BVNPC@sbcglobal.net or call the Buena Vista Nature Center at 760-439-2473.. 2009 Oceanside Native Plant Tour The annual Oceanside Native Plant Tour is an event that has clearly struck a chord with the local community. As evidence we cite this year’s crowd of 225 enthusiastic participants. They met under sunny April skies at St. Mary’s school and divided up into walking tour groups led by native landscape professionals and botanists. This year, donations received at various booths along the way were added to over $3,000 in grant funds and in-kind donations already received to fund a native plant landscape project at the school. See you next year! Illustrated Brochure With Map California Native Plant Gardens Tour of Downtown Oceanside Want to check out the premier Oceanside native plant gardens yourself? Click here for a brochure with map that you can print out and take with you. (Adobe Reader is required. Click here for a free download if you don't already have it). Click below for a list of plants that may be seen on the tour: Oceanside Yard Plant List Scenes From 2008 Tour All Photos by Steve Lacy Free Compost The good stuff! The El Corazon Compost Facility located at 3210 Oceanside Blvd. offers a variety of natural compost mixes, excellent for use as soil amendments or mulches in your yard. It’s available free for Oceanside residents, and for a modest fee for others. For more nformation, call: 760-439-9138. Monday Mornings with the Natives Joan Bockman and Debra Buroughs invite interested gardeners to join them on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. at the Nature Center for some casual gardening and friendly chatter. For more information on any Native Plant Club events, call the Nature Center and leave a message for Joan Bockman 760-439-2473. Riparian Habitat What is in the garden? The Nature Center garden is made up of 3 zones. The street frontage of the building is intended to show a large scale native landscape that simulates a riparian scene. The entrance to the building is surrounded by a specimen garden that showcases various plants. The back patio area demonstrates a smaller "condo" garden. Directly adjacent to the lagoon, plants are selected more for compatibility with the lagoon ecosystem. This area is more of a habitat than a garden." Garden Layout/Description Additional plants to be found: Big Mesa Sage Salvia California Fuschia Zauchneria septentrionalis Checkers Sidalcea neomexicana Live Forever Dudleya pulverulenta Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus Manzanita Arctostphylus densiflora "Harmony" Matilija Poppy Romneya Coulteri Sagebrush Artemisia californica "Canyon Grey" Sagebrush (taller) Artemisia californica


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