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curiouselder.bsky.social
@curiouselder.bsky.social
260 followers 250 following 260 posts
Propagator of California native plants, habitat gardener, ExPost
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curiouselder.bsky.social
Cirsium occidentale (Cobweb Thistle)
Beautiful native thistle that the native bees fight over.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants #nativebees
June 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Chorizanthe douglasii (Douglas’ Spineflower) for those of us impatient for the Eriogonums to bloom. This is an annual in the buckwheat family that blooms earlier than Eriogonum. Endemic to California. The yellow one is Pentachaeta aurea ssp.aurea.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Mass of dark pink small ball flowers (Chorizanthe douglasii) and small yellow daisy flowers (Pentachaeta aurea ssp. Aurea).
May 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Castilleja foliolosa (Indian Paintbrush) and Fremontodendron ‘Ken Taylor’. I have found Castilleja easy to grow from seed. They are hemiparasitic but do well in pots both with and without a companion plant. Seed purchased from Seedhunt..
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
In front is a 3 foot shrub covered in orange paintbrush flowers and in back is a 7 foot shrub covered in yellow Flannelbush flowers.
May 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
The California native grass Melica torreyana planted with Trifolium willdenovii (Tomcat’s Clover), Streptanthus glandulosa ssp. secundus (Secund Jewel Flower), Platystemon californicus and a Balsamorhiza sagittata in my serpentine rock garden.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
3 bunch grasses (Melica torreyana) with small purple clover flowers in front and small white flowers in back (Streptanthus glandulose ssp. Secunda) larger white flowers to left (Platystemon californicus) and large leaves in back (Arrow Leaf Balsam Root).
April 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
California native grasses have been an important addition to my pollinator and habitat garden. California has almost 700 native grass, rush and Juncus species. Photo is of the beautiful Koeleria macrantha (Junegrass) in full bloom in my yard.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nariveplants
Two large bunch grasses in full bloom.
April 28, 2025 at 11:23 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
There are very few California native vines that do well in full sun. Calystegia macrostegia (Island Morning Glory) is doing well in full sun in Sacramento. The native morning glory is not invasive like the non native bindweed.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants
Calystegia macrostegia. large bushy vine on fence covered in white and pink morning glory flowers.
April 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Pictures of my rock gardens without plant ID information. All plants are California natives.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Serpentine gardens on way to ponds and stream. Limestone rock garden on front side of upper pond. Granite rock garden on back side of upper pond. Lava rock garden on far end of ponds.
April 20, 2025 at 1:01 AM
curiouselder.bsky.social
California has 21 Salvia species (plus many cultivars). Two are annuals the remaining 19 are perennial which can (and do) hybridize. They have different bloom times from early spring through fall. I keep my favorite, S pachyphyla, isolated for seed collection.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants
Salvia sonomensis. Early blooming ground cover. Large patch of 18 inch flower stalks with purple salvia blooms. Salvia brandegeei. Very large plant, early blooming and loved by bees including this male valley carpenter bee. White salvia flowers with large golden, fuzzy bee that has large greenish gold eyes. Salvia carduacea. Midseason blooms. One of two annual Salvias. Thistle like foliage with two large pink/purple thistle like flowers. Salvia pachyphyla. Late season blooms. Smaller shrub. Lots of papery purple and mauve flowers on 2 -3 foot shrub.
April 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Lots of pipevine swallowtails in the yard. The first photo is of pipevine swallowtail eggs on the pipevine (Aristolochia californica). Second photo: tiny caterpillars. Plant pipevine in Northern and Central California and they will come.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants
April 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Aristolochia californica (Pipevine) fruit just appeared this week. I let fruit/seeds mature on vine, bagged until pod pops open in late fall. Seed planted in fall, kept damp in cool area will germinate in 2 to 4 months.

#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants
Three pipevine (Aristolochia californica) fruit/pods. Dried pods and seed of Aristolochia californica (Pipevine) collected in late fall.
April 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
California Native Papaveracea (Poppies)
Four beautiful California native poppies. All are in the poppy family Papaveracea.

Argemone munita (Chicalote)
Platystemon californicus (Creamcups)
Papaver heterophyllum (Windpoppy)
Eschscholzia lobbii (Fryingpans)

#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Large white poppy flower with yellow center. Argemone munita (Chicalote) Multiple white flowers with yellow tipped petals. Platystemon californicus (Creamcups) Multiple orange poppy flowers. Papaver heterophyllum (Windpoppy) Multiple lemon yellow smaller poppies. Eschscholzia lobbii (Fryingpans)
April 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
More california native plants in the yard. Some information in ALT. Most seed purchased from www.seedhunt.com.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #nativeplants
All are California natives. White daisy is Layia pentachaeta ssp. albida. Blue is Phacelia campanularia. Plectritis congesta, seed purchased from Klaamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds. Streptanthus farnsworthianus. One of my favorite Jewel flowers. Layia chrysanthemoides - half size (only at Seedhunt).
April 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
All California natives. Most seed purchased from Seedhunt. Some seed from San Diego CNPS seed and bulb. Info in ALT.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Yard with Layia, Lupinus, Archtostaphylos, Papaver, Platystemon, Madia Papaver heterophylum, Lupinus stiversii Lupinus sericatus, Madia elegans, Achillia millifolium, Phaselia tanecetefolia Front yard with 100% California natives.
April 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
California natives. Easy to grow annual lupines.

Yellow - Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorous
Small purple with silver furry foliage - Lupinus concinnus
Tall purple - Lupinus benthamii (Spider Lupine)
Pink/yellow - Lupinus stiversii (Harlequen Lupine)

#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Tall yellow lupine flower and foliage. Very small purple lupine flowers with silver fuzzy foliage. Tall purple lupine flowers with spidery foliage. Pink and yellow lupine flowers in their foliage.
April 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Darmera peltata (Indian Rhubarb)

Native to Northern California and Southern Oregon. Grows in stream beds and can reach 2 to 7 feet in height. This one is planted on the edge of my pond.

#CaliforniaNativePlants. #NativePlants
April 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Caulanthus inflatus (Desert Candle)
Eschscholzia lobbii (Fryingpans)

The striking Desert Candle and the Fryingpans are doing well in my Sacramento yard. Both are annuals. The Desert Candle needs good drainage. Original seed was purchased from Seedhunt.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Spikes of yellow stems with maroon flowers (Caulanthus inflatus/Desert Candle) in a bed of smaller yellow flowers (Eschscholzia lobbii/Fryingpans).
March 29, 2025 at 11:57 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Baileya multiradiata (Wild Marigold)
Native to the Southern California deserts. Short lived perennial, reseeds, needs good drainage, blooms year round in Sacramento. Loved by insects as seen in photo of a bumblebee spending the night in a flower.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Baileya multiradiata.Yellow flowers on long stems and bluish silver foliage. Bumble bee upside down in yellow flower pulling petal over body.
March 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Trifolium jokerstii (Jim’s Clover)
Rare species of yellow Clover growing in the “vernal pool” on one end of my serpentine rock garden. Seed purchased from Seedhunt.

Also Downingia cuspitata (Toothed Calicoflower) another vernal pool California native plant.

#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Yellow Trifolium flowers and blue and white Downingia cuspitada.
March 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Phacelia companularia (Desertbells)
Endemic to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Easy to grow annual supports early pollinators. Seed purchased from SD CNPS seed and bulb.
White Layia pentachaeta ssp albida (Sierra Tidytips). Seed purchased from Seedhunt.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
March 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Lomatium utriculatum
Common lomatium is starting to bloom in the rock garden.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Nativeplants
Yellow lomatium flower in limestone rock garden.
March 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Caulanthus anceps
Lovely native annual that is endemic to California. I’m growing a small colony of it mixed in with the grasses. Seed purchased from Seedhunt.

#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
February 28, 2025 at 10:14 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Caulanthus inflatus
The amazing annual “Desert Candle” is starting to bloom in my front yard.

#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
February 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Valuable pollinator plant blooming in the late summer heat. Original plant purchased 25 years ago from @laspilitas.bsky.social, one of the few nurseries that ships native plants and has invaluable information.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants @laspilitas.bsky.social
Large shrub with dozens of white flowers.
February 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Eriogonum vimineum.
Photo from last summer. Beautiful annual buckwheat. Self seeds. Looks atractive for months. Original seed purchased from Seedhunt.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlants
Two foot tall plant with spindly branches covered in small pink balls.
February 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
curiouselder.bsky.social
Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) caterpillar feeding on it’s only host plant the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica).
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Nativeplants #butterflies #caterpillar
February 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM