NEWS FROM THE NURSERY

NEWS FROM THE NURSERY:
Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird Sage Photo: Chris Lewis	It’s nice to have flower or fruit in December! The American River Ranch Native Plant Nursery however is not just a pretty face! Yes, we’ll hope that you’ll fall in love with our local natives (and want to preserve them!) but if the plant is not locally native your nursery/ our nursery will not be growing it.
For instance this beautiful Hummingbird Sage (native to Coastal CA) would not be propagated at our nursery because it is not locally native. This beautiful Snowberry, which is locally native, will be. Join our Nursery group as we explore our –local- world!	Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Common Snowberry. Photo: Las Pilitas Nursery
Donations! Joe & Mary Maret donated a huge stack of lumber that we were able to turn into 2 potting table and 6 growing boxes! Thank you for your generosity! Another of our Nursery Leaders, Rosie Yacoub, persuaded Redi-gro to donate a huge list of planting media. Thank you Rosie & Redi-gro! We’ve now applied for 2 grants to help get us started. Cross your fingers for us!
Work Completed! The November workday turned out Rosie Yacoub, Lynda Ives & sister, Linda Sweetman, Katie Lockhart, Patsy & Nicolai Laguaglia, Jennifer Stock, Dave Vaughan, Betsy Weiland, Mary Maret, Dave Roberts, and Brian & Mira Bennett. (2½-year-old Mira was just there giving her daddy & grandma (Chris Lewis) moral support.) This crew finished potting benches, screened grow box bottoms, cleared the canopy growing area, erected canopy frame, prepared seeds (& took some home to work on), prepared planting mixes, planted seeds in 2 outside boxes and planted seed flats. Thank you all!
January 12^th - Each 2^nd Saturday is a workday out at the Nursery from 9:00 – 1:00. (Some of us are there during the week to water. If you can help during the week, please let me know.) Join us for EXCEPTIONALLY beautiful days down on the river! Rain or shine we’ll have potting, labeling, or other work to be done. On Nursery workdays we need small muscle and big muscle help! The Nursery always loves volunteers, be it every week, once a month, or just occasionally! If you can help out, please RSVP Chris via email lewisc@surewest.net or 916 812-2876. Snacks will be provided. Come for the bike ride, stay for the fun!
What’s New? In January we will be collaborating with Soil Born Farms in a Design Charratte to vision the Farm & Native Plant Nursery. How will it turn out? Stay tuned!