Page 12 - SC Gazette Garden Guide 2020.indd

GOING NATIVE
California Native
Plant Society
Deer Resistant Plants
It is a common challenge in many localities to find a balance between attractive, hardy landscapes and plantings that deer won’t annihilate. Some neighborhoods, such as Oakmont, are notorious for their brazen deer. When asked for plant options in these cases, we refer to the Western Garden book for their list of Deer Resistant plants however our light-hearted follow up statement is that “the deer don’t read this list”.
Welcome to the Milo Baker Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). Our chapter, which is named after the famous Santa Rosa botanist, is located in Northern California’s
There is no such thing as a true deer-proof plant. During drought or periods of scarcity, deer can be driven to eat even the most unappetizing selections in your yard. Likewise, nothing is off the table for young deer who are testing out what is and is not edible.
beautiful Sonoma County. CNPS is a statewide organization whose goals are to increase understanding and appreciation of California’s native plants, and to preserve them and their natural habitats for future generations.
Some of the plants that make
the deer resistant list will have one or more of the following traits: Toxicity, strong fragrance, thorns, or unpalatable texture.
Upcoming plant sales at the Milo Baker Chapter nursery at the Laguna Foundation: May 2, 2020 from 10am-2pm and October 10, 2020 from 10am-2pm
Sign up for Email Alerts for our Plant Walks and Field Trips. Contact Ruthie Saia: ruthiegardengirl@gmail.com
Upcoming Plant Walks We invite you to join us in stimulating and energizing educational and horticultural to help us share the CNPS mission. We have many ways
to get involved from
helping in the nursery,
on our preserves, with
education and outreach
and on our demonstration
garden projects. Please
contact Horticulture
Chair April Owens,
aprilleeowens@gmail.com
or Education and Outreach
Chair, Virginia Hotz-
Steenhoven,vsteenhoven@
sonic.net (707)528-6030
Certain plants like Oleander, Nightshade or Foxglove are known for their toxicity to deer even while other plants like poison oak remain on the menu. Not everything that is considered toxic or poisonous to us will have the same effect on deer.
Flowering Quince
Plants with a strong fragrance are
often avoided by deer and can serve a double purpose as an herb garden. Salvia, Rosemary, Lavender and Thyme are just a few of the plants that are considered deer tolerant because of their fragrance.
Some plants are simply more trouble than they’re worth for the deer by employing a range of thorns or stickers. Barberry and Flowering Quince are good options for thorny plants that
can discourage browsing by the deer
Monday 3/30/20 Pepperwood Preserve with George Jackson
Tuesday 4/14/20 Sudden Oak Death, Fairfield Osborn with Kerry Wininger Saturday 4/18/20 Garrison Canyon at Pepperwood preserve with Michele
and can often act as physical barriers around the yard to protect more tempting items within.
Halbur
Saturday 4/25/20 Native Plant Wildlife Habitat garden and home
Other plants on the deer resistant list fall into the category of simply unpleasant to chew. Certain types
of Currants or Buddleia have fuzzy or felted leaves. Any combination of these traits will raise the effectiveness of deterring deer.
landscapes with Terry Loveton
Thursday 4/30/20 Jenner Headlands Preserve Serpentine Grasslands,
Wildlands Conservancy
Sunday 5/3/20 Fitch Mountain Open Space Preserve with Kate Symonds Saturday 5/9/20 Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Wildflower Walk with Sarah
Hairy Ceanothus - Ceanothus oliganthus
Gordon
Monday 5/11/20 Hallberg Butterfly Gardens with Evan Peterman Sunday 5/17/20 The Cedars with Roger Raiche
Thursday 6/4/20 Westside Water Education Center, native gardens and
Some recommendations like
Daphne will make the list with
varying success ranging across different zones; while others like Ceanothus are listed with the caveat that deer will tend to leave alone only the small- leafed varieties.
riparian trees and flora. With Ryan Pedrotti and Ruthie Saia Monday 7/13-7/17 Stillwater Cove Camping trip with Ruthie Saia
Deliberately placing deer-resistant plants on the perimeter of your
yard may deter deer from venturing further in. Keep such delectable treats as roses, strawberries, plums and grapes protected by physical barriers if possible.
Call out for Volunteers! Learn more by helping out.
Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 at Doran Beach - Help us pull out invasive Iceplant please. Text Invasive Plant Chair JAN 569-4724 to find out where they are working let her know you are coming!
There are many deer deterrent strategies to try; fencing, motion sensor lights or sprinklers, and olfactory repellent.
Fridays at Sonoma County Living Learning Landscapes - Contact Horticulture Chair April Owens aprilleeowens@gmail.com or 707.331.2070 Come out to 1808 Albany Drive in Santa Rosa and see the progress and our wonderful Butterfly Swale.
READ our Newsletter: https://milobaker.cnps.org/index.php/news
FOLOW US in Facebook: California Native Plant Society-Milo Baker Chapter
Then there’s just sharing your space with these beautiful creatures.
Daphne (also comes in a variegated version)
12 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 2020 Gardeners Resource Guide