Public Program Schedule

Native Plant Landscape Installation Workshop
Sunday, 3-18-12, 9AM – 2PM
Join Back to Natives for a FREE Native Plant workshop in Huntington Beach (RSVP for directions). Learn why planting native plants is beneficial. Find out how to determine which locally native plants are right for your yard.  Learn to create and use a landscape design.  Assess soil type, sun exposure, water resources, and plant needs.  Learn techniques for installing native plants, a micro-irrigation, and mulch.  Find out when and how often to water. Develop a care and maintenance schedule.  Learn how and why you should sanitize your tools. Back to Natives designs California native landscapes for homeowners and businesses throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Native vegetation requires less water and maintenance, and no fertilizer or pesticides. Many native butterfly and bird species are dependent on the habitat provided by native vegetation. These resource efficient landscapes require an approach to design and installation that differs from conventional practices. For more information or to RSVP for this workshop, send an email to info@backtonatives.org. This workshop is free. Donations appreciated!

Eco-Action
Saturday, 4/21/12, 9AM – 11:30AM
Children age 7-9 take action to help people, plants and animals on the earth.  During a nature hike, participants discuss ways that water, soil and air become polluted, and play a game to learn ways to conserve water.   Children discuss the negative impacts of plastic, pick up trash along the trail and decorate their own canvass shopping bag to take home.  They learn about a famous female environmentalist, and participate in an environmental service project to improve habitat for wildlife.  The program is 2.5 hours and costs $8.50/child (adult companions are free).

Biodiversity Walk & Talk                      
Saturday, 5/5/12, 9AM – 12PM 
Join Reginald Durant from Back to Natives to learn all about Biodiversity -- the variation of life on Earth.  The morning will begin with an indoor presentation about South Coastal California’s biodiversity.  Afterwards, participants will join Reginald on a walk in the Santiago Creek Nature Preserve to observe the biodiversity present in the middle of urban Santa Ana!  Learn why biodiversity is important, why it is threatened, why we should care, and what we can do to protect it. $15. This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Orange County Butterflies and Their Host Plants                         
Saturday, 6/16/12, 9AM – 11AM       
Join Back to Native’s Director of Restoration Reginald Durant to learn about common and not so common Orange County native butterflies!  Learn which landscape quality locally native plants will attract butterflies to your yard.  After a brief indoor presentation, participants – armed with field guides – will hike the Nature Preserve trails to try their hand at identifying the Park’s winged inhabitants.  Bring your camera! $10.  This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Native American Uses of Native Plants              
Saturday, 7-21-12, 9AM – 11:30      
Join Back to Natives to learn the about native plants used by the Tongva and Acjachemen of Orange County for food, shelter, clothing, basketry, tools, medicine and more.  We will start with a brief indoor presentation, and then go for a hike in the Nature Preserve to get an up close, personal view of the plants!  At the culmination of the program participants will learn one method of making string from palm leaves. $10. This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Butterfly Walk and Talk                         
Sunday, 7/10/11, 9AM – 12PM 
Join Back to Natives to learn all about butterflies!  The morning will begin with an indoor presentation about butterflies.  What is the difference between a host and a nectar plant?  How long to butterflies live?  What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?  Are there endangered butterflies and moths?  Afterward, participants will join Lori on a hike through the Santiago Creek Nature Preserve to observe local butterflies in their natural habitat.  Participants will discover what they can do to help butterflies by planting native plants that provide habitat.  $15.  This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Color Wheel of the Year            
Saturday, 8/4/12, 9AM – 11AM
Take a journey through the seasons with Back to Natives Director of Restoration, Reginald Durant and learn what native plants provide color in which season!  Snowy white Manzanita flowers and scented ceanothus bloom in winter, and springtime brings a rainbow of ephemeral wildflowers.  Rusty buckwheat flowers and golden grasses liven up the dry summer landscape, and red toyon berries herald the fall. The correct plant pallet will assure that there is always something interesting happening in your garden. $10.  This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Habitat Gardening for Birds and Butterflies  
Saturday, 9/1/12, 9AM – 11AM
Join Reginald Durant from Back to Natives to learn about creating habitat for birds and butterflies in your yard.  Landscaping with natives conserves water – an increasingly scarce natural resource – and saves money.  Using natives eliminates the need for pesticides, which harm beneficial insects and other animals, and reduces our exposure to toxic substances. Natives also require less mowing, pruning and fertilizing.  Learn which landscape quality locally native plants will attract birds and butterflies to your yard. $10.  This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Landscaping with Native Plants      
Saturday, 10/6/12, 9AM – 11AM
Join Reginald Durant, Director of Restoration for Back to Natives Restoration, and learn how to make your landscape sustainable using locally native California plants.  Native plants can be adapted to garden styles from around the world, while providing a healthy environment for wildlife and people here at home.  Natives conserve water – an increasingly scarce natural resource.  Using natives eliminates the need for pesticides, which harm beneficial insects and other animals, and reduces our exposure to toxic substances. Learn which landscape quality native plants will work best in your yard.  $10. This class is at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. 

Plant Power!
Saturday, 12/1/12, 9AM – 11AM
Children age 5 & 6 learn about the importance of plants.  During a nature hike, participants learn how plants provide habitat for animals and give humans food, shelter, clothing, tools, medicine and even oxygen in the air we breathe!  Children go on a “leaf hunt” and collect fallen leaves (which they later return to the Earth) to do a leaf rubbing activity.  They perform in a “seed skit,” and as a group they “build a tree.” Participants begin an experiment to see which Orange County native plant seed wins a sprout race.  The program is 2 hours and costs $7.50/child (adult companions are free).