Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: Coast Silktassel

Coast silktassel (Garrya elliptica) is a shrub to small tree adorned with enchanting catkins of gray flowers in the winter. These attractive, drought-tolerant plants are popular with gardeners who want to add an element of whimsy to their landscapes.

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: Coffeeberry

Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) is the native plant gardener’s best friend, and a constant companion to our local oaks! Though its understated appearance might not grab your attention right away, the coffeeberry’s subtle elegance, forgiving nature, and high value to pollinators will be sure to win you over.

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Valerie Lee Valerie Lee

Rooted in our Community

Perhaps you've heard it at a workday, or maybe it was through an email you received after your volunteer event. Regardless, we hope it rings true: Grassroots Ecology values your feedback.

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: Bushmallow

Bushmallows are a diverse and underappreciated group of shrubs with stunning, pink blooms and soft, fuzzy leaves. Our local arcuate bushmallow (Malacothamnus arcuatus var. arcuatus) is only found in the Santa Cruz mountains and is a great option for sunny spots in the garden.

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: California Native Bunchgrasses

California bunchgrasses provide beauty and habitat long after invasive annual grasses have died off, and their deep roots make them drought-tolerant and great for increasing soil health and carbon storage. Now there’s some grassroots power!

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: Yerba Buena

Yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii) is a dainty, bright green native mint commonly found crawling along the forest floors of the Bay Area. In the garden it forms a lush groundcover, and it can be used to make tea or to season food. Yerba buena is available at our Native Plant Nursery. Learn more about this deliciously fragrant plant and how to grow it:

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Guest User Guest User

Claire Elliott Retires!

We are celebrating the retirement of Claire Elliott, Grassroots Ecology’s very own tirelessly dedicated and enthusiastic employee of 17 years!

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

May Native Plant of the Month: Blackcap Raspberry

Did you know that we have a native species of raspberry right here in the Bay Area? Blackcap raspberry (Rubus leucodermis) is found in the Santa Cruz Mountains and produces delicious black raspberries in the summer. Blackcap raspberries are available at our Native Plant Nursery. Learn more about raspberries and how to grow them.

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

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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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

Native Plant of the Month: Strawberry

Two native strawberries grow in the Bay Area: woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis). Both are sprawling, deep green groundcovers that can fill in bare zones around shrubs or even serve as lawn replacements for areas with moderate foot traffic. They also produce small fruits in late spring!

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Guest User Guest User

How to be Tick Smart Outdoors

If you happen to be bitten by a tick while out enjoying nature, you might try to panic-Google how to remove it or worry about contracting Lyme disease. While ticks are not risk-free, there are ways you can avoid them while outdoors and best practices to remove one if you are bitten.

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Talia Kirschner Talia Kirschner

Grassroots Ecology Moves to a Co-Leadership Model

Grassroots Ecology’s Executive Director of seven years, Alex Von Feldt, has recently been joined in the executive ranks by Junko Bryant, formerly the Assistant Director—making them Co-Executive Directors!

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Deanna Giuliano Deanna Giuliano

Native Plant of the Month: Oak

Our native plant of the month is oaks (Quercus species.), an important plant in our California ecosystems that provides habitat for hundreds of different mammals, birds, and insects. Learn about oaks and how to grow them:

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Stanley Gu Stanley Gu

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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Deanna Giuliano Deanna Giuliano

Native Plant of the Month: California Fescue

Our August native plant of the month is California fescue (Festuca californica), a great drought resistant native plant that provides habitat for local wildlife!

Learn about the wonders of California native grasses and how to grow California fescue:

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