By Don Rideout, Native Plant Gardener and CNPS VolunteerBeacons Beach in Encinitas is located on a fairly steep sandstone bluff. Due to decades of human disturbance and natural erosion, the slope lost most of its native vegetation, and non-native weeds took over. Recently the city council decided to undertake revegetation of the slope with native species in order to stabilize the bluff, increase coastal bluff habitat, and beautify the trail leading down to the beach.

Text and Photos by Lee Gordon Native Garden CommitteeThis is fifth of a short series on some of our local native plants that are superb for our gardens, but that are largely overlooked.Bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum), is one of our common small shrubs, found in San Diego from the coast into the foothills. Bush rue is found in a few locations to the north, but it is otherwise a truly local San Diego native. Even now, after our long dry summer and fall, most of the plants growing in our open spaces remain green.

Text and Photos by Lee Gordon Native Garden CommitteeThis is fourth of a short series on some of our local native plants that are superb for our gardens, but that are largely overlooked.Snowdrops caught me by surprise on a spring hike up the Iron Mountain trail, where they graced both sides of the trail. When I saw their showy blooms, their graceful stems, and their shiny round leaves, I immediately fell in love with them.