The annual California Native plant sale at El Dorado Nature Center on Saturday was filled with people in search of drought resistant plants to purchase and add to their gardens.
The plant sale features native plants in California, some from the southwest and Mediterranean climate and succulents from around the world. Prices varied from $4 to $15 per plant.
Meaghan O’Neill, the supervisor at El Dorado Nature Center said the plants come in all different sizes, and most will grow with minimal sunlight.
“We have many different California plant species and drought tolerant plants,” O’Neill said. “We encourage people to put drought tolerant and water wise plants in their garden,”
The money raised goes back to the nonprofit friends of El Dorado Nature Center. The funds go towards habitats restorations at the nature center or the environmental education program, she said.
Donnie Haigh, a park naturalist, said since people are trying to be water wise, most of the plants are drought resistant.
“90 percent of these plants can’t be found in local nurseries,” Haigh said. “We educate the public of the value of the native plants and bring native education… People are here because they want to improve the environment by having California native plants in their yard and switch to drought tolerant plants.”
The El Dorado Center works with nurseries including the Tree of Life nursery, Native Suns nursery and there is a section of plants on site raised by volunteers in their nursery, she said.
The El Dorado Nature Center is educational and informs the community about how to manage these plants in their yard. Richard James, a park naturalist said he likes being able to share information about the native plants.
“Last year, we sold out all of the plants, which was over a thousand,” he said. “Sometimes it fills up with people within the first hour. A lot of people are redoing their whole yards and bring their plants to check in with us and see which ones they have.”
After people picked the plants they wanted to buy, they were placed in a holding area, where the plants were categorized alphabetically by their scientific name.
Elfriend Somberg from Lakewood was searching to find a plant from a variety arranged on the tables. She said it is her first time at the plant sale and she liked the wide selection of plants.
“I like growing them and seeing what they turn into and to complete the look of the house,” she said.
Pamela Angeles from Lakewood was carrying a plant she was planning to purchase in her hand and was looking at the selection of plants on the table when she said that she comes to the plant sale every year to fill her yard.
“I like the flowers and plants because they attract birds and butterflies,” Angeles said. “It’s low maintenance and fun to watch. I also like trimming them.”