CONSERVATION CORNER

BIG BEAR'S NATIVE PLANTS MAY SOON BE AVAILABLE

Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita, CA has agreed to grow plants native to the Big Bear Valley if we (DWP) provide them with seed. DWP felt it was important to take advantage of this opportunity and recently shipped seeds from 22 of the valley's native plants to the nursery. Depending on germination and growth rates, we hope to have our native plants available at our local nurseries as soon as next summer. We also hope that many local residents will take advantage of the opportunity to develop attractive gardens and conserve water by purchasing these plants when they become available. Native plants are adapted to our local climate, including dry periods like our current drought, and require no irrigation once they are established.

Some of the highlights of the seed shipment include rose sage, firecracker penstemon, bumblebee penstemon, and flannel bush. Those that are interested and have access to the internet are encouraged to e-mail Las Pilitas Nursery through their website (www.laspilitas.com) to let them know that there is considerable interest in our native plants. This will encourage them and help ensure that our local native plants become commercially available. Las Pilitas Nursery specializes in growing native plants of California and they maintain an extensive wed site that provides detailed descriptions and horticultural notes on many of California's native plants.

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