Take a late-spring ramble through a garden of native plants

Many California natives rest or go dormant in the summer, so May is an excellent time to view native plants still in their spring flush.

This Sunday offers an ideal opportunity, as California Native Plant Society Ambassador Patricia Carpenter opens her garden west of Davis for her Late Spring Seasonal Native Garden Ramble.

Carpenter’s 1-acre property, with more than 400 species and cultivars of natives, will be available for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, starting at any time within those hours. The event is free but registration is required. The link to register can be found here. A map and plant list can be found on Carpenter’s CNPS profile page.

In addition to viewing late-spring color, visitors will be able to see the many geophytes blooming in the garden.  Seasonal maintenance, pruning, seed collecting, and plant propagation also will be in progress.

An optional short orientation and Q&A gathering with Carpenter will be held at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. To participate, meet near the check-in table.

Visitors should bring a sun hat or personal umbrella and a filled water bottle. Toting a lunch or snack is allowed, but no dogs, please.

For more information, email both Patricia Carpenter <pcarpenter.flower@gmail.com> and Maya Argaman <margaman@cnps.org>.