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Through our annual fall plant sale, we promote California's true landscape. Most man-made landscapes in California are examples of gardens from other parts of the world, while California actually has a tremendous range of different landscapes, with different vegetations.

Through planting native gardens in our yards, or even native pocket gardens, you can support local birds, butterflies, and other beautiful creatures that have used native plants for thousands of years for food or living places. This is especially important to do, as land undergoes development, and we lose natural habitats.

Once native gardens are established, usually within a year, native plants require less maintenance than many common garden plants. They require no fertilizer, pesticides, little pruning, and less water. Native plants survive in nature with only rainfall for irrigation. We can take advantage of low water-use species in our gardens, which saves money and conserves a vital resource.

On October 11, we will be selling plants that thrive in the many natural habitats of Kern County. Plants for five types of gardens will be displayed: Shade, Sun, Mountain Meadow, Kern Chaparral, and a Cutting Garden. Our member gardeners will be present to help shoppers choose plants that will grow best in the mini-habitats of the shoppers' gardens. Also on sale will be seed packets of Hummingbird Plants and Butterfly Mix, and native plant books to advise gardeners throughout the year.

CNPS is a state-wide, non-profit organization of amateurs and professionals with a common interest in learning about and preserving California's native plants. Locally, we meet monthly for socializing, practicing identifying native plants using a floral "key", and for a program on gardening, plant or habitat conservation, or plants of a specific region. In the spring and summer, we sponsor wildflower walks, trips to native gardens or arboretums, and field trips to ever higher elevations as the seasons change to see our natives in the wild. We offer stewardship opportunities at local preserves, usually by pulling exotic weeds, followed by a picnic. We also provide monetary prizes to the winners of the "Plant Biology" category at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Science Fair. You are invited to participate in our activities, and to join the Kern Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Visit our website at www.CNPS.org.