Native Plant Nursery

In this episode we check out Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano, California - this is a nursery entirely dedicated to growing native plants from the regions of Southern California & Baja California Mexico, which are both part of the California Floristic Province.

Though the episode focuses on the charismatic flora of Southern California and Baja, the important take-away here is that EVERY region has its own list of native plants and a cast of native plant species that compose the living fabric of that particular place or region. Sadly, many of us growing up in these places often have no idea what those plant species are, so we end up planting tacky, over-used horticultural garbage from the Home Despot™️ Garden Center.

The purpose of this episode is to show how rewarding it is to grow native plants. Do you feel like attacking someone with a crowbar when you get home from work? Does life in modern society leave you feeling empty and useless and hungry for things you don't need? Does your role as a nameless consumer in a grotesque retail economy slowly eat at your soul? Native plants can serve as an antidote to that. Try to recreate the habitat that once grew where your house now stands and watch the birds and insects that once lived there come back to enjoy the plants you've planted and are now growing in your yard. Even planting non-native (but also non-invasive - there's a difference) can be extremely rewarding and make you feel less like drinking a gallon of bleach after spending an hour on the phone with the gas company after you found out they overcharged you $80.

Tree of Life Nursery is a great example of a place to procure these plants if you're unable to grow them from seed yourself, and every region usually has a native plant nursery as this healthy trend (one of the few) starts to spread.

Thanks to Kevin Allison for helping produce this episode.

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[anderslangoks]

One main reason to plant natives is to support the native insects that have evolved with the plants. And by extension, the whole food web. Along with saving water.

[yhlanded]

I’m SO HAPY to see this video. I work at a native plant nursery in GA. We grow all from seed, and are stewards of rare plants in the state! I can already tell we are getting a lot more people who are more interested in preserving our native flora!

[paytonlott]

This semester I’m taking my first college botany class because of this channel. It’s going well :) thank you to all you bastards

[christianelowsky]

Outstanding! I've been telling my students that they have decades to support native plant use.

[cgriggsiv]

Awesome to see such kind-hearted people trying to restore native plants keep up the good work my man and to the nursery my heart goes out to you all excellent job to you

[mr.dopegaming]

These videos single handedly changed my direction in life. Been a fan for a few years now, love the work

[fuxan]

Brian Fuxan here with the Florida and SouthnCarolina Native Plant Society and thank you for devoting an entire episode to the severity of a problem we find ourselves in with every piece of land being butchered for some sick human centric means only to be paved and installed with non-native invasive plants.
Every day I learn something new.

[Tatterdemalion-]

For you Missourians, or midwesterners in general: Missouri Wildflower Nursery, Jefferson City, MO., Sow Wild Natives, Kansas City, MO., Critsite Prairie and Wetland Center, Belton, MO., , Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN. (Great catalog and online selection) and of course, the Missouri Dept. of Conservation online tree seedlings, on sale starting in September for delivery Feb.-April, a great tree and shrub resource, very cheap but they sell out quick.

[thestrangegreenman]

"...if you live in, and I don't know where you live, in friggin' Upstate New York, you can do this too."

Me, in Upstate New York, with a refrigerator of native seedlings cold stratifying and a vendetta against Norway Maples and Bradford Pears: "Huh, I'd never really put that together before."

[OakSummitNursery]

makes me feel good about starting a native plant nursery. around here we're in such a cold climate zone 3 the only way to get seeds that for sure can survive the winter is to find them locally, so lots of walking through the forest and foraging.

[craiglevy]

California is unique in having multiple plant nurseries, wholesale and retail, up and down the state solely dedicated to native plants. This is bolstered by an active California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and botanical gardens devoted to natives and other BGs having large sections of natives comprising their total plant mix. I grew up in California and took all this for granted so when I moved to NY state it was shocking to find there was nothing equivalent at the same level there. California's multiple droughts and occasional water rationing has brought an awareness of native plants to the state's residents that isn't matched elsewhere.

[danieldow]

I LOVE this place, one of the best nurseries I have ever been to. Also have a large library of good content on YouTube.

[katiekane]

Check out your local native plant society too. I would never poach from the wild but approved digs prior to development have gotten me some nice specimens. I gave away lots of red & blue Lobelia I grew from seed. Trying my hand at dividing natives on my property, hope to share them around too.
Here around Atlanta, folks move here because they say they love the area, then they systematically remove all the stuff they can't readily ID & plant imported crap. SMMFH
Gonna try cuttings off the biggest Ceanothus I've ever seen in the SE this year. It's gotta be 18' & it's growing where it floods.

[katrienacarranza]

I fucking love the way you say “you just gotta destroy your lawn” real talk here. I love what this nursery is doing thanks for sharing this with me/us

[roxanneconner]

I'm moving from Wisconsin to Minnesota this week to start work at a native plant nursery!! I'm so excited. Up here all the pants have adaptations to survive the super deep freeze winters. Native plants are more hardy, plant native!

[swaddington]

I’m watching this again because it’s awesome 😃

[saltator]

I've been spreading common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) seeds in the areas that aren't mowed.

[thedudegrowsfood]

Perfect timing, my man. Snowed out morning. Coffee, "flowers", and CPBBD.

[FordFlatSix]

I wish that big box stores would sell milkweed like these guys.

[soyjuan_mikaell]

I came right after I saw you featured in wired. Just watched few vids as of now but I'm already hooked