Even though we've had one of the wettest winters on record, we Californian's must always be looking for the next drought just around the corner.  With that in mind, an in-depth look at the amazing possibilities of California native plants is always in season.

There are many fine books to guide us in creating beautiful gardens and landscapes with California natives, whether your goal is to integrate a few natives into your current garden or develop an entire native landscape.  One of my favorite volumes to help us in this endeavor is Native Treasures: Gardening with the Plants of California, 2006, University of California Press by M. Nevin Smith (ISBN: 0-520-24425-7).  The author's introduction immediately draws the reader in with his personal story of living amongst California natives as a boy and then poses the question—why should we care about native plants?

After a brief explanation of how to incorporate natives in garden designs both “great and small”, Smith follows by a brief but informative section on “nuts and bolts” of successfully propagating and growing natives to suit one's own soil and climate.  The author then launches into a whirlwind tour of all manner of native plants.  He begins with his favorite native trees and shrubs, then moves onto sages, subshrubs and herbaceous perennials, concluding with native bulbs and corms.

Each section is as clearly organized and written just like a great cookbook.—making you want to try them all!  Smith's “favorites”, as he refers to them, are each introduced by an enticing personal narrative.  He then follows the personal with comments on “Common Features”, “Uses and Culture” and “Propagation”  Smith ends each section with wonderful descriptions of six or seven “Species of Interest” in each category.

The book is illustrated with exquisite photographs which give abundant examples of many natives.   Smith is an excellent writer and his text is written with the passion of an artist painting an elegant landscape.  The entire volume makes you want to jump right in and do a native plant “make-over” in your own garden.  And, you sense that with Smith's keen guidance, expertise and knowledge, you're going to succeed!  Happily, this wonderful book can be found in our own Solano County Library—so, start reading and get planting!