Lanterman House Native Plant Garden
The mission of the Lanterman Native Plant Garden is to showcase the types of plants the Lanterman family found when they first arrived in the area in the 1870s. These plants are important parts of the valley’s ecosystem and have been used by the native inhabitants for thousands of years. The Lanterman Garden was first established in 2019 in order to demonstrate the benefits and beauty of native flora to the local community.
Contents:
1.
California Mixed Poppies at the Lanterman Native Plant Garden
What are Native Plants?
Native plants are species found naturally within a region or area. The Lanterman Native Plant Garden is home to over 50 native plant varieties. They are available to view during visiting hours.
Why are Native Plants Important?
Native plants have a vast range of benefits. They are great for the environment since they support local animals, have many medicinal uses, and also leave a positive psychological impact on their observers.
2.
How Native Plants Help Our Ecosystem
Since native plants evolve with the land and species around them, this creates symbiotic relationships. A symbiotic relationship is where plants and animals give back to one another. In some cases, they rely only on each other for support.
Native plants limit the amount of resources humans have to use. Since they have adapted to the area, they require less water and fertilizer. Native plants are already accustomed to the amount of rainfall. The soil has the proper nutrients they need to grow. This means native plants are low-maintenance and the perfect additions to one’s garden.
3.
Medicinal Uses of Native Plants
From early Spanish missionaries identifying that Yerba Buena has healing properties as poison oak remedy to Hummingbird Sage being put in the everyday tea to soothe sore throats, these native superheroes have been used to help with aches, infections, and other issues throughout time. White Sage is known as the “Native American Clorox” due to its anti fungi and antibacterial properties as well as its seeds being high in nutrients. All of these plants can be seen in Lanterman’s own native garden.
These native plants were prevalent during the time of the Lanterman family, who first arrived in the 1870s. For more information on the history of the Lantermans, please visit the Lanterman history page here.
4.
Native Plant Recipes
Enjoy some delicious recipes that can be made from Californian native plants!
5.
Native Plants Q&A
Where do I start?
You too can plant a native garden in your yard with a few key factors in mind:
Scope: Define the area for your planting project. Will it be a few pots? A narrow strip next to the sidewalk? An entire yard?
Light conditions: Observe sun and shade on your site throughout the day and see if this is suited to the native plant species you wish to plant.
Cost: Determine the project budget and adjust plant sizes/quantities to keep costs manageable.
Involvement: Native plants don’t need as much attention as others, but they still require basic maintenance. Make sure to frequently water your native plant, especially within the first few years.
Tip: As a rule of thumb, water your native plant at least once a week within the first year of planting it.
Showcase: Find which native plant species you want to incorporate into your
garden. The Calscape database below lists many options with a complete set of sizing, maintenance, and further details.
Happy gardening!
Where Can I Purchase Native Plants?
Many locations sell native plants, saplings, and seed packets. For those living in the Lanterman House area, the Theodore Payne Foundation, the Armstrong Garden Centers, and the Lincoln Ave. Nursery are nearby candidates. For a specified search, see the link to Calscape.
View of the Lanterman House and Native Garden
ABOUT THE AUTHOr
This website was created by Cozette Rinde as part of her girl scout gold award project
connecting nature, health, and community.
The purpose of this Gold Award Project is to promote the benefits that native plants have on our local ecosystems. By doing so, our community is reminded to both appreciate the beauty of the nature surrounding us and work towards creating a more ecological society. Native plants are incredibly helpful in limiting resource consumption, namely water and fertilizer. With the inclusion of more native plants in the community, both the environment and its inhabitants, animals and people alike, can prosper from it. Walks in nature improve mental health, many native plants have medicinal benefits, and they preserve the history of the land, serving as a valuable factor in a constantly shifting world.