WYP: Congrats! People often ask me why I “preach” working with native plants, and I’ll ask you the same. Why focus on California Native plants?

BE: The reason I garden with native plants is because I love California. I started gardening with California plants when we arrived here in 1996 from New Jersey because I wanted to feel more connected to my new home. It was my way of setting down roots, literally and figuratively…It has helped me better understand the land on which I live.

WYP: Yes! I like to tell people that working with native plants is the single best way to connect to where you live. Changing topics, it’s fall here in LA, and that means time to get planting. What changes are you making to your garden?

BE: Ah, plans for this planting season! I'm very excited about this because last spring we removed the last bit of turf grass in our yard (the front yard), and put in flagstone patios and paths. This hardscape keeps the front yard open for sitting and walking, without requiring constant irrigation and mowing of the lawn it replaces. Now comes the fun of filling in the surrounding space with plants. My vision is of drifts of bunchgrasses interspersed with sages and monkeyflowers. Wildflowers will make this spring – especially this spring since the area has been disturbed – quite colorful.

WYP: Any big winners and losers in your new pass at the garden?

BE: Firstly, I have had it with coral bells. They are pretty but not pretty enough to use as annuals. The bunchgrasses weathered the extreme heat fine – no problem. Deergrass is a very long-lived, adaptable plant. I find it hard to understand why it is not used more!

WYP: How does the success or failure of the plants at the nature center educate your approach to your home garden, or do they?