It’s no longer a secret to readers of this magazine that native plant gardens can look as beautiful as those stocked with showy exotics, while at the same time providing habitat for native insects and birds and conserving water and healthy soil. To see native plant gardens in bloom, and get some ideas for your own yard, join one of the several tours taking place this spring. In the South Bay, sign up for the annual Going Native Garden Tour on Sunday, April 29. Register for this free tour before April 28 at www.GoingNativeGardenTour.org.
In the East Bay, check out the annual Bringing Back the Natives tour on May 6. Choose from 55 gardens in Alameda and Contra Costa counties on this day of free self-guided tours. New to this year’s program are in-depth guided tours of several selected gardens on April 28 and May 5. The fee for these “Gardens of Native Delights” tours is $30. Register before April 25 by visiting www.BringingBacktheNatives.net.