March is here already and there may still be a few nice rain storms in store so keep on planting - it's an ideal time!  

Hank had a great time last week end talking about culinary and medicinal uses of native plants at City Farmers Nursery. It's a topic that many are interested in so we have added information to our Information Library and will add more when we can. We'll also be talking about some of the uses of native plants on our Facebook page, so stay in touch and add your insights too!

Don't forget to stay informed about the many events being planned to celebrate the first annual California Native Plant Week April 17-23. Check our  next newsletter, Facebook and our nursery blog  (now with RSS feed) to learn more about how you will be able to participate in this ground breaking event.

  The Fuschia Flowering Gooseberry is one of the best displays of wild flowers in California. With lobed apple-green leaves, the crimson, fuschia-like flowers adorn the thorn protected branches in winter and early spring. This shrub is a favorite of hummingbirds and provides shelter that is defended dearly by the birds. The flowers set to reddish gooseberries in early summer that can be made into jam or jelly. In most situations this shrub will show summer dormancy, with leaves returning at the onset of winter rains. Because of this, and its thorns, it is best to plant this among evergreen shrubs which minimize the effect of the summer dormancy. The spectacular long-lasting show of flowers makes this a very desirable plant for a native perennial garden, slope plantings, or as a contrasting plant in a silver-gray garden. Try training Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry along a fence or trellis, or include in a woodland garden. This shrub will tolerate shade or sun and requires minimal water. 

Every purchase of our "Plant of the Month" at our retail nursery partners will generate a $0.50 donation to PLANT WITH PURPOSE to help poor villages in third world economies restore farms, plant trees and create local jobs.