Native Plant Boot Camp 2026

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Join us for a day of celebrating California native plants!

Native Plant Boot Camp is a free community event featuring workshops, demonstrations, hands-on activities, educational booths, and plant sales - all focused on helping you create a beautiful, sustainable garden that supports pollinators, wildlife and our local environment.

Explore information tables from local organizations, take part in hands-on activities, meet fellow garden enthusiasts, and discover new ways to bring nature into your own garden.

Blue Moon Native Garden will be on site with a wonderful selection of native plants for purchase, alongside plants propagated by our UC Master Gardener volunteers. It's the perfect opportunity to take home some inspiration for your own garden while supporting local native plant efforts.

Grab lunch from one of our food trucks, relax on the beautiful Rancho Cielo campus, and enjoy a full day of learning and exploring. Since you'll be spending much of the day outdoors, don't forget your hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes.

UC Master Gardener volunteers will be available throughout the day to answer your questions, help you find your next workshop, share gardening resources, and talk about what it means to become a Master Gardener.

Come on down and enjoy a fabulous day at the Rancho Cielo campus! 

Register for Native Plant Boot Camp!

Download Schedule and Site Map

Workshops:

Choose from a wide selection of workshops where you can learn how to use native plants effectively in your landscape. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of color or are planning a significant project like removing your lawn, we’ve got something for you. 

• California's Fire-Adapted Ecosystem & Fire-wise Gardening

  • Matthew Todd, Central Coast PBA
    • Matthew Todd is currently the President of the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association and a prescribed fire practitioner and wilderness Emergency Medical Technician with The Nature Conservancy's North America Fire program. Matthew’s talk will center around natural ecosystems across the US, and especially in California, that are "fire-adapted." It is now understood that regular fire in the landscape is an essential part of a functioning ecosystem and is critical to the health of our forests and grasslands. Matthew will discuss the history of fire and how our forests and grasslands are faring without the use of regular, low-intensity fire. He will also talk about how a defensible space can make our homes more resilient to wildfire.

• Native Plants for Year-Round Color

  • Debbie Lemon, UCMG
    • This interactive presentation will cover a range of native plants that can be used to create or enhance an existing native plant garden. By incorporating these plants, you can ensure year-round blooms that attract birds, insects, and provide seasonal interest.

• Native Plant Communities

  • Patrick Regan, CNPS Monterey Bay
    • Not every California native plant is appropriate for every California native garden. There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the BEST native plants for your garden. Using a plant community approach is a good way to start. Plant communities are groups of plants that commonly grow together in a certain geographic area based on soil types, topography, water availability, and climate. The Central Coast has many different plant communities, some rare, some common. We will look at some of both and talk about the plants that make them special and the conditions that can make your garden a good place to grow them.

• Creating Habitat in your own Backyard

  • Amanda Preece, Monterey Audubon Society
    • Come and learn about the connection between the plants in your yard and the wildlife in your neighborhood. Amanda's holistic approach to home landscaping and land management demonstrates that each of us can play a part in supporting the wildlife in our region. After all, they keep ecosystems functioning and make Monterey Bay a great place to live! They deserve our help, and each yard, park, or patio can contribute to improving wildlife habitat in your neighborhood. Tips, tricks, and best practices will be shared to generate ideas about making your yard a mini-State Park, through protecting and supporting biodiversity.

• Replace your Lawn with Low-Growing California Natives

  • Barbara Rae-Venter, UCMG
    • Learn how to transform your traditional lawn into a beautiful, sustainable landscape using low-growing California native plants. This workshop will guide you through every step of the process, including lawn removal, taking advantage of “Cash for Grass” rebates, garden planning, updating irrigation systems, selecting the right native plants, and installing your new water-wise landscape. Perfect for homeowners looking to save water, support local ecosystems, and create a low-maintenance yard.

• Site Preparation for California Native Plant Gardens

  • Laura Murphy, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC)
    • Learn how to assess and work with your landscape to lay the foundation for a thriving California native plant garden. This class covers key principles for observing and understanding site conditions—such as soil, light, water, and microclimates—and explores thoughtful strategies for working with or gently modifying these conditions. Gain the knowledge to create a resilient, ecologically sound garden that supports long-term success.

• Bringing Nature Back to Salinas at Ensen Community Park

  • Jennifer Vasquez, Big Sur Land Trust

    • Come and learn about the Ensen Community Park restoration project, a $40 million, 73-acre urban greening initiative in Salinas, developed by Big Sur Land Trust to transform the historic Carr Lake basin in the center of the city. This multi-phase project features a recently opened 6-acre neighborhood park, with a 67-acre floodplain habitat restoration area—including grasslands, wetlands, and trails, and over 12,000 native plants and trees—scheduled for public opening in September 2026. 

• Bringing Habitat Restoration Principles into your Garden

  • Kat Hardisty-Cranston, The Wildlands Conservancy

    • Learn about The Wildlands Conservancy, how they implement habitat restoration projects around the state, and how to apply those principles in your own yard.

• What's the Buzz about Pollinators?

  • Natalie Johnston, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

    • This workshop presented by the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will have a talk and hands-on interaction with Museum specimens. Topics that will be highlighted include the science of local pollinators, insect conservation, and how actions like avoiding pesticides and planting native plants can make your garden an oasis for these vital creatures.  

Demonstrations:

Are you looking to learn gardening techniques in person? YouTube isn’t cutting it? We’ve got you covered! We’ll be hosting demonstrations of some common garden topics, allowing you to see things up close and ask questions as you learn.

• Pruning Native Plants:

  • Tara Keyser UCMG
    • Introducing basic pruning practices, an overview of tool types, cleaning and sharpening your tools. As well as giving clear strategies for pruning your native plants when winter comes around.

• Seed Cleaning Demonstration & Hands-On Practice

  • Kari Olsen, Santa Cruz Chapter of CNPS & UCMG

    • Join us for an interactive seed cleaning demonstration where participants will learn the fundamentals of separating, cleaning, and preparing native seeds for storage, planting, or distribution. The demonstration will cover common seed cleaning methods, equipment options, and best practices for maintaining seed quality and viability when stored. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using a variety of seed cleaning tools and techniques, practice processing different seed types, ask questions, and learn basic principles of responsible native seed collection.

• Garden Irrigation Demonstration 

  • Carlos Barrios/Jacqui Ramo, UCMG

    • Are you new to irrigation? Are you looking to conserve water and irrigate more efficiently? Come join us to learn how to install your own irrigation system.

Hands-On Activities

Are you ready to dive right in and discover ways to utilize the bounty from your native plant garden? Our hands-on activities will provide you with an opportunity to explore this exciting topic. Whether you're drawn to crafting, connecting with tradition, or simply curious, these activities offer space to learn through doing.

• Willow Branch Wreath Making

  • Kerith Koontz & Stephanie Campbell, UCMG
    • Supple willow branches have long been used by Native Californians to create baskets and other items. Try crafting a beautiful and natural wreath using freshly harvested willow you can take home.

• Keeping a Garden Journal

  • Melinda Nakagawa, http://sparkinnature.com/
    • Find it hard to recall when you planted or pruned? Learn simple ways to sketch and scribble your notes about your garden activities. Your garden journal will be a useful tool to remember what worked, track growth and deepen your connections through every season. Bring a pen and a notebook, sketchbook, or journal - or pick one up on site. Colored pencils are optional and will also be available for purchase. No experience necessary.

Educational Booths

Visit educational booths from local organizations working to protect and celebrate the natural spaces, wildlife, and native plants of the Monterey Bay region. Learn more about their work, discover local resources, and find new ways to get involved in your community.

• UC Master Gardeners
• Monterey Audubon
• California Native Plant Society – Monterey Bay Chapter
• Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Register for Native Plant Boot Camp!

 

About Rancho Cielo Youth Campus

Native Plant Boot Camp will be held at the beautiful Rancho Cielo Youth Campus at 710 Old Stage Road in Salinas. Rancho Cielo invests in young people facing challenges by providing diploma education, vocational training, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and affirming environment. We are grateful to partner with an organization whose mission strengthens our community in so many ways. Learn more about Rancho Cielo here.

Thank You to Our Partners:

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Register for Native Plant Boot Camp!