From the Mojave to the Sierras to the Mediterranean climate of the Bay Area, the native plants of California form a diverse mosaic of breathtaking beauty. An amazing 2,153 species, subspecies, and varieties are native to California alone. [1]

What are native plants? Generally, native species are defined as those occurring naturally in an area without human introduction. Over time, they have become specifically adapted to thrive in harmony with local conditions and wildlife.

Why “NATIVE” as my subject? California is big and bold. A long-time transplant from NC, myself, I still have fresh eyes for the rugged, majestic landscape that I have the good fortune to call home. It has been said that native plants “give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours.”[2] Right now, this is where I am, and these works are a tribute to the grandeur (and sometimes brashness) of the species that share their California with me.