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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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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…

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…

August 30, 2015 • 11min
Some Other Common Brushfoots (Nymphalidae)

The Mourning Cloak  (Nymphalis antiopa) is fairly common in Marin, and adults can be seen flying almost any time during the year. This species is also found in Europe; on the British Isles it is known…

February 12, 2015 • 16min
The Swallowtails

Within the family Papilionidae are some of the largest and most spectacular butterflies in the world. Four species are commonly seen in Marin; each one associated with a particular type of habitat. Three are yellow…

August 13, 2014 • 5min
The “Whites”

One of the most common butterflies we see around Marin is the Cabbage White; and it has the distinction of being the only naturalized exotic butterfly in our area. This species has successfully established itself…

July 30, 2014 • 11min
The Other “Ladies”

There are three closely related ‘Ladies’ that are easy to provide for in a habitat garden; the Painted Lady, the American Lady, and the West Coast Lady; however, they are not always easy to tell…

January 27, 2014 • 4min
Painted Lady Butterflies

The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is the most cosmopolitan of all butterflies on earth. This butterfly is widely distributed all over the Northern hemisphere, and can be seen in all types of habitats except dense…

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