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Home Ground Habitats Blog

Insights, stories, and guidance on native plants, wildlife, and habitat gardening.

Featured

Our featured story, chosen for its seasonal relevance and ecological focus.


2024 Eco-Friendly Garden Tour

Save the date: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 Home Ground Habitats will once again participate in the annual 2024 Eco-Friendly Garden Tour. The Eco-Friendly Garden Tour is a public outreach and education program that promotes sustainable landscaping practices by showcasing inspiring gardens throughout Sonoma and Marin counties. The Tour highlights Russian River-Friendly and Bay-Friendly landscaping best […]

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November 19, 2025 • 3min
Plant of the Month November 2025: Verbenas

By Charlotte Torgovitsky. Why Verbenas Deserve the Spotlight Verbenas are hardy fall-blooming perennials; either small shrubs or spreading groundcovers of varying heights. The verbenas mingle well in mixed borders, and they bloom almost any time…

September 30, 2025 • 3min
Plant of the Month October 2025: California Sunflowers

By Charlotte Torgovitsky. In California we have both annuals like Delta Sunflowers, Helianthus annuus, and Giant Sunflowers, Helianthus californicus, which is an herbaceous perennial that dies back to a large taproot in the fall. Before…

June 27, 2025 • 2min
Plant of the Month July 2025: Coyote Mint

By Charlotte Torgovitsky. This beautiful little California native “sub-shrub” is a wonderful pollinator plant that comes into its full glory early in summer. A member of the mint family, Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) supports local…

May 27, 2025 • 2min
Plant of the Month June 2025: Seaside Daisy

By Charlotte Torgovitsky. A Coastal Beauty for Every Garden If you’re looking for a native plant that combines beauty, resilience, and ecological value, Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) is a wonderful choice. This charming perennial brings…

March 10, 2025 • 1min
Spring 2025 Plant Sale!

Spring is almost here. Celebrate in the garden with us at our first Plant Sale of the year. Saturday, April 12th, 2025, 10:00am – 2:00pm. Join us to purchase organically grown habitats plants, hear expert…

July 31, 2024 • 1min
Creating True Habitat… for Foxes!

Home Ground Habitats gardens are vibrantly alive and beautiful. Habitat gardens are havens for wildlife. Butterflies, bees, and birds… and now our nursery is home to… foxes! Unlike other foxes, Gray Foxes are a species…

May 31, 2024 • 2min
Plant Propagation Classes and NEW Workshop for Summer 2024

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Hands-on classes are back this summer, with a new October Workshop*! *It is highly recommended that you have attended the…

March 28, 2024 • 1min
First Annual Habitat Garden Summer Camp

Home Ground Habitats in Novato is excited to announce our first annual Habitat Garden Summer Camp for children. July 8-12 2024 9:00am-1:00pm Open to 2nd through 5th Grades FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: click…

February 8, 2024 • 1min
Now Open Wednesday Afternoons

We are excited to announce that Home Ground Habitats is now open to the public on Wednesdays. In addition to our Plant Sales and Events, we are now open for you to visit us Wednesdays…

June 13, 2023 • 1min
June 17th, 2023 Plant Sale

There is still time to plant for blooms this year! Our May plant sale was such a success that we have planned another one! Our next PLANT SALE will be: Saturday, June 17th, 2023, from…

April 1, 2018 • 4min
Poison Oak and Its Relatives

A native plant that we all know (or certainly should!) is Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobium) because it is so widespread in the Bay Area. Many people get a very uncomfortable rash if they touch any…

March 31, 2018 • 3min
Two Redbuds

Early in March, the Redbud is ready to burst into bloom; the beautiful zig-zagging tracery of its branches soon to be disguised in a cloud of pink flowers. I’ve planted several redbuds in different areas…

December 28, 2017 • 17min
Thinking About Weeds and Wildflowers

Micro-Habitats; Knowing Your Land My husband and I live on a south facing hillside situated above the Novato Creek floodplains; it’s a beautiful, warm, and sunny spot with a great vantage point. Our hill, called…

July 11, 2017 • 4min
Some California Native Perennials and Shrubs to Grow from Seed

Linum lewisii A beautiful Western perennial, perfect for the border or in a meadow blended with bunchgrasses, poppies, clarkia and flowering bulbs. Summer blooming, flowers open over a long time; full sun, low water, 12-18”…

July 8, 2017 • 5min
Some California Native Wildflowers to Grow from Seed

All of these native annual wildflowers are great for pollinators and other beneficial insects! Clarkia unguiculata / Mountain Garland The blooms of this native clarkia range from white, pale pink, salmon, and bright pink to…

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