WUCOLS UC Davis https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/wucols - Search by city - Create list of favorite plants - Not all plants are native
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Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720365086 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aacb39/meta https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Dont-Plant-Me/Pampas-Grass On my last video about pampas grass I got this comment, “What sequesters more carbon, the native alternatives or these pampas grasses? I'm betting on the pampas grass. Change is hard but I don't think these native plants have always been here, not that we can't question this but I think we're looking at it through a flawed lens.” I appreciate comments like this because they push me to examine my thoughts and try to present them in a digestible way.
I looked up some studies about pampas grass and carbon, the ones that I could find about pampas grass specifically do not show that they are a significant carbon sink, but it does not seem like there’s a singular consensus on grasslands as a whole from what I could find. My sources will be at the blog linked in my bio. But beyond that, I’ve seen this kind of sentiment in a lot of comment sections. A lot of people decide whether a plant is “good” or “bad” by looking at one metric. I've even seen comments that refuse to believe that any plant can be harmful in any way. While I understand the instinct to pick a singular metric and apply it everywhere, it is never going to show the complete picture because we do not live in a simple world. For example, not every tree is helpful to the environment, the idea that all trees are good is a good starting point but ultimately flawed. Eucalyptus trees are a great example of this. They are a key part of their native ecosystem in Australia where other plants and animals have evolved alongside them and support each other, but in California, they kill native plants, drain groundwater, and there are no native plants or animals that benefit. Native plants are not valued because “change is hard”, they are key to a thriving complex ecosystem.
Apple Park (a.k.a. The Spaceship or The Mothership), the Apple headquarters, is home to thousands of native California plants. The 150 acre campus is 80% landscaped, with over 9000 trees. The landscaping includes both native grasslands and trees. The landscaping was designed by David Muffly and features a variety of native plants including but not limited to; Note: Photos are not from Apple Park, for photos from the campus, click the first link in the sources section.
Step 2: Input your city name. Step 3: Select your garden style. Step 4: Pick the amount of sun your garden gets. Full Shade = Under 3 hours per day Partial Shade = 4-6 hours per day Full Sun = 6+ hours per day Step 5: Choose your plant characteristic priorities. (Can choose as many as you want) Step 6: View Results Page Step 7: Save the design ideas and charts under "See your design ideas" Step 8: Choose some native plants that appeal to you. Step 9: Click on the plant to find more information. Step 10: Click on the "___ Nurseries Carry This Plant" link. Step 11: Find a plant nursery near you, and have fun planting!
Channel Islands Restoration is an organization dedicated to environmental work in Santa Barbara County and the Channel Islands. They organize and carry out invasive plant removal projects with independent volunteers and school trips. The plants in the process of being removed include Iceplant, Pampas Grass, and Blue and Red Gum eucalyptus trees. Native animals include Channel Islands Fox, Western Pond Turtle, and Southern California Steelhead. Native plants being preserved include, Island Manzanita, Guadalupe Cypress, and Humboldt's Lily.
To support this organization, you can sign up for a variety of volunteer work such as iceplant removal and becoming a temporary sheep docent. You can also donate to them directly or purchase something from the online shop. Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis) is a very common plant on California coasts. It is a succulent shrub that was introduced to California (from South Africa) in the early 1900's to help stabilize the soil near railroad tracks. It is also used as an ornamental plant and sold in nurseries for personal use.
Once established, iceplant forms a thick mat that chokes out several rare and endangered native California plants. Native animals also lost their food sources and habitat. The roots can also destabilize costal soil and increase the chances of landslides, the opposite of their original intended purpose. The shallow roots and branches climb over each other, which makes the surface heavy, leading to chunks of the iceplant mat falling off steep surfaces, taking topsoil with it. The method that is currently considered the most effective for iceplant removal is manual removal. Burning is ineffective because of the high water content of the plant. To help remove iceplant in your area, look for student groups and organizations with events dedicated to iceplant removal near you.
Lathyrus Splendens (Pride-of-California) Lathyrus Vestitus (Pacific Pea) Lonicera Ciliosa (Orange Honeysuckle) Marah Fabacea (California Manroot)
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