Growing the past to preserve the future at Native Revival Nursery
By Noel Smith
For the past 20 years, Erin O’Doherty has been on a mission. She wants to re-introduce California native plants in our yards and gardens in order to replace the thousands of imported plant species that have and are wreaking havoc on native plants and the landscape around us. Erin explained to us that these non-native plants not only are crowding out native species, but when they were imported, deadly pests and diseases often accompanied them.
“Right now ‘Sudden Oak Death’ is killing our native oaks in California,” said Erin, “My husband is a arborist and sees dying oaks every day. The disease is having devastating effects and is killing thousands of native trees in our part of California.”
Erin and her brother started her first nursery 20 years ago and then 10 years ago, she moved to 2600 Mar Vista Dr. in Aptos, just across the street from the Aptos Grange. The grounds of the nursery are divided into the kinds of plants and the environments they thrive best in (Sunny, shady, dry, etc.) The grounds surrounding the nursery are also home to a herd of sheep while just across the fence is a pond said to be the happy home to thousands of small tree frogs (Some customers get a free – but unintentional – frog with their purchase.)
Native Revival also has critter-friendly plants. If you want honeybees, they have plants that attract and feed them. They know the favorites of butterflies so that your garden will be a haven for the colorful Lepidoptera. Or plants that will attract those pest-controlling critters for your garden like lizards or ladybugs. They will show you how to use these natural solutions to attract and control both welcome and unwelcome critters.
The last two relatively dry years have heightened awareness among many residents to the use of water for our lawns and gardens. Many California native plants are designed for this type of climate. While thriving when there is plenty of rain, they can survive and even flourish in the dry times. That is why Erin is encouraging the switch to native plant species because it makes sense for the long term and they are low-maintenance and drought resistant.
And does she know her plants! The latest edition (with pictures!) of her plant bible, Native Revival Nursery – A Gardeners Guide to Native California Plants is now available at the nursery. This is no pamphlet! It’s almost 200 pages of information about California native plants.
Erin also informed us that many of the big box stores and nurseries are selling cloned plants. These plants are grown from cell scrapings from the plant and not from seed. This is actually similar to plant grafting in that one plant can produce many sisters (or brothers) to be sold. This also means that there is no genetic variety among those cloned plants. If there is a defect or weakness, they will all have it. By growing plants that have genetic diversity, whatever genetic problems there are will be diluted in each generation and eventually may disappear.
This summer there will be a Summer Brunch Series kicking off Saturday and Sunday July 20 / 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and will be every Sunday thereafter from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Summer Brunch Series features art, local musicians, and the latest culinary craze – a variety of food trucks will be invited each weekend to show off their specialties.
The Summer Brunch Series will also feature the biggest Native Revival Nursery sale of the year with from 20 – 50 percent off of both plants and gift shop items. Native Revival has jewelry, soaps and scents, and other interesting gift items by local crafts men and women.
If you want your lawn or garden’s future to help preserve the past — as well as being low-maintenance and drought resistant — visit Native Revival Nursery today!
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2600 Mar Vista Dr., Aptos, CA. Tel #: 831-684-1811, Website: www.nativerevival.com. Ask for Erin or Aimee. They want to help you replant the past.
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sat/Sun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.