If this newsletter was being published elsewhere I might be promoting a different plant palette. So I offer my apologies to online readers from afar, as this month's lead article is meant for California's Central Coast readers.

Bay Area Native flowering plants can play a part in your garden. While not as showy as those flowers associated with traditional English-influenced style, they provide durability and a glimpse of what was here before cities covered much of the landscape. Most people I encounter here have the impression that our native plants are somewhat dull, drab and only interesting to the trained eye. May I suggest a walk through the East Bay Regional Botanical Gardens, located in Tilden Park where all plants are labeled according to where and when collected; or perhaps a hike with a botanist through one of our many Bay Area parks (my favorites include any section of the extensive Bay Area Ridge Trail).

Later in winter you may notice the pink drooping clusters on Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) and the tiny white bells of Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum). Other harbingers of spring in the Bay Area are Buck Brush (Ceanothus cuneatus) and Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis), both adorning sunny slopes. As things warm up, look for the Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla), Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa), and Sticky Monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) to start doing their thing. Add to this the oddball flowers of the ground covering Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum), and the various forms of our local Iris species and you have an idea why I love this place.

You can incorporate some of these wild ideas into the controlled environment of your garden. As mentioned in our last issue of Gardening Suggestions local botanist and educator Glenn Keator will be at The Nursery to answer questions and promote his new book Designing California Native Gardens, the Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens.

And for a real floral show, check out the many annuals and perennials offered by local grower Annie Hayes. Annie's Annuals selections include the cream flowered, fragrant Bluff Wallflower (Erysimum concinnum), Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla), the Uncommon Jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus peramoenus) and of course the many hues of California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Flower Floozies won't want to miss her upcoming visit to BHN.

The nice thing about all of these offerings is their potential when mixed with non-natives from other Mediterranean regions. Take some notes on your next Botanic Garden visit, and then head to Berkeley Hort. We'll be happy to match cultural requirements for you.

– Paul