• March 01

Weather variations seem to have mixed up the blooming schedule of many plants around the neighborhood. The park's manzanitas still carry some tiny pink bells while the ceanothus and poppies are bursting out in the sun and the alum-roots have sent up their stalks in the shade of the oak tree. The first bumblebee workers have also made their appearance--these and other native pollinators are especially welcome to all gardeners since most wild European honeybees have been wiped out by a parasite.

• April 00

Community volunteers have managed to stay ahead of the weeds so far at Glen Echo Park-help keep it up as our native irises and other plants put on their spring show!

• Aug. 00

Two of the most striking summer bloomers are the tall, yellow-flowered Evening Primroses and the dusty pink flower heads of Giant Buckwheat. Shorter accents include the orange California Poppies and the paler Bush Monkeyflowers.

• Sept. 00

The native plant landscape has been showing off its banks of pink yarrow and fiery red California Fuschia (a favorite hummingbird flower).

• Oct. 00

As fall approaches, the native plant landscape on the north side of Monte Vista is finishing its flowering period. Cool fall days are a time for plants to make new root growth, often letting this year's leaves and stems die back.