“Native Plants Demystified” is the Theme of our Speaker Event on October 14th

Published by Steve Clark on 09/22/202109/22/2021

Three experts will share their knowledge of native plants on October 14 at 7:00 p.m. Attendees who donate $10 or more when they register will receive a voucher for a free 4-inch plant from Growing Works and a 15 percent discount code to participate in a Wild Rootz adventure.

This Fall Speaker Series presentation will be held virtually via Zoom and feature botanical educators Laura Pasetta, Jenn Rodriguez, and Antonio Sanchez. COSCA administrator Brian Stark will also join to talk about native plant preservation in the open space.

Laura Pasetta, founder and owner of Wild Rootz Outdoor Adventures, is a trained clinical herbalist, California naturalist, organic gardener and nature photographer. Her video presentation will cover how to identify native plants for food and medicine and some tips on native plant gardening.

Jenn Rodriguez, who holds a BS degree in Horticulture from UC Davis, will speak about the relationship between native plants and pollinators and will give a video tour of Camarillo wholesale nursery Growing Works, which she manages. Growing Works focuses on California natives, succulents, and Mediterranean plants and provides supported employment for adults with moderate to severe mental health challenges.

Antonio Sanchez is the nursery manager and restoration volunteer coordinator for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. He has over 15 years experience, including heading up the nursery at California Botanic Garden in Claremont and co-owning Nopalito Native Plant Nursery in Ventura. He has worked at Cal Flora Nursery, Theodore Payne Foundation for Native Plants, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. He will talk about native plants in the garden and join Pasetta, Rodriguez, and Stark in answering attendee questions at the program’s conclusion.

To sign up for this event, go to http://cosf.org/events/register/ and fill in the form. While this is a free event, we suggest a donation of $10 per person. Your support for future Speaker Series presentations and our other activities would be greatly appreciated. Also, you’re get a voucher for a free plant and a discount for a Wild Rootz adventure!