April Native Plant of the Month: California Buttercup

April Native Plant of the Month: California Buttercup

Every spring, California buttercup blooms across the grasslands, oak forests, and along creeks of the Bay Area. These brilliant, yellow flowers re-emerge after the rain and provide an early food source for native bees, ants, and butterflies. They are sure to add a pop of color to a sunny meadow or semi-shaded woodland garden.

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Pruning a Native Plant Garden

Pruning a Native Plant Garden

Volunteers help us install thousands of native plants every year. Pruning, or the removal of dead and unwanted parts of a plant, is a crucial part of maintaining their health. Grassroots Ecology staff recently sharpened their pruning skills at a workshop led by our Nursery Director Deanna Giuliano and Ecologist Siena Watson. Follow their tips below to learn how to prune in your own garden.

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Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Taming the Rapids that Storm our Local Waterways

Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Taming the Rapids that Storm our Local Waterways

The October atmospheric river that combined with a “Bomb Cyclone” caused flooding throughout our urban and suburban infrastructure, increasing the severity of the flood event.

If you are looking to help mitigate flooding in your local neighborhood and/or creeks here are three GSI solutions that you can implement at home or share with your local city council:

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Mother Oak, Father Time

Mother Oak, Father Time

Perhaps the real world embodiment of The Giving Tree, the tall and benevolent oak not only provides a shaded reprieve for the tired hiker, but is also unparalleled in its ability to grant food, water, shelter, and protection for wildlife. But like many wild things, our mighty oaks are threatened by a rapidly changing world.

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