By Tish Berge, CNPS Garden AmbassadorAs residents throughout the county consider removing their turf with the help of rebates offered by our Southern California water utilities (more information at https://socalwatersmart.com/en/residential/rebates/available-rebates/turf-replacement-program/), it’s a good time to remember that there are native grasses that have many benefits, from low water use to high habitat value.

By Lee GordonSummer holly is an uncommon San Diego shrub that is a member of the Ericaceae (Heath family) along with manzanitas and blueberries. As are many of our native heaths, it is also an uncommonly beautiful plant. It is evergreen, with displays of white flowers in the spring and bright red berries in the summer and fall. They are an unusual source of garden color this time of year.

By Frank Landis, Conservation Committee Chair & Rare Plants ChairTime to haul out some math, to make a pitch for saving big trees, although at first this advice seems charmingly quaint, maybe even crazy. The problems du jour are Gold Spotted Oak Borer (Agrillus auroguttatus) and climate change, but this also applies to shothole borers.