1. NURSERIES (these have very educational websites!) 

Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Sunland www.theodorepayne.org
Tree of Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano www.treeoflifenursery.com

Las Pilitas Online Nursery, Escondido www.laspilitas.com

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2. WATER-WISE AND EARTH-FRIENDLY GARDENING

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Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 

www.bewaterwise.com 

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Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 

http://www.rsabg.org 

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EthnoHerbalist, Database of Southern California ethnobotany (historical use of native plants), 

http://www.ethnoherbalist.com/southern-california-native-plants-medicinal/

Wildscaping Your Garden, 

www.wildscaping.com 

Gardening for Songbirds, Hummingbirds & Butterflies:  

http://www.wildscaping.com/pdfs/Wildscaping_plantlist_0705.pdf 

University of California (UCI) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Home and Garden,  

http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html

3. ORGANIZATIONS

Local Audubon Society (local) 

https://pvsb-audubon.org

California Landscape Contractors Association 

http://www.clca.org/ 

California Native Plant Society 

www.cnps.org

National Wildlife Federation

Learn how to earn your own NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat designation at http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat.aspx
 

4. LOCAL BUSINESSES: 

Wild Birds Unlimited: redondobeach.wbu.com 
Enviroscape: http://www.enviroponds.com/ 
Neighborhood Consulting Arborist: www.ncatree.com 
Garden Magic Company: http://www.gardenmagiccompany.com

BEECASSO Live Bee Removal Inc.: http://www.beecassolivebeeremoval.com/#beecasso

5. BOOKS: (new additions coming soon!)

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Natural Enemies Handbook, the Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control
The best-ever practical guide to the identification and biology of beneficial organisms that control pests. University of California Division of agriculture and natural resources

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Designing with Succulents

Debra Lee Baldwin
this complete design compendium is as practical as it is inspirational. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, it gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Featuring the work of more than 50 professional garden designers and creative homeowners,

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Ceanothus 
David Fross & Dieter Wilken, 2006
A complete horticultural and botanical treatment of the genus aimed at both gardeners and botanists,this book finally gives Ceanothus-with so many plants that tolerate sun and shade, thrive in arid conditions, and bear a profusion of beautiful, fragrant flowers-the recognition it deserves.

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Re-imagining the California Lawn: Water Conserving Plants, Practices, and Designs
Carol Bornstein, David Fross, Bart O’Brien, 2011
This book features water-conserving plants from around the world and offers design ideas and practical solutions to help you create a vibrant garden that complements our Mediterranean climate.

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The Jepson Manual - Vascular Plants of California, 2nd edition
Bruce G. Baldwin, Douglas H. Goldman, David J. Keil, Robert Patterson, Thomas J. Rosatti, and Dieter H. Wilken

This comprehensive and somewhat technical resource integrates the latest science with the results of intensive fieldwork, institutional collaboration, and efforts of hundreds of contributing authors into an essential reference on California's native and naturalized vascular plants.

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Landscape Plants for California Gardens 

Bob Perry
It offers the most comprehensive color illustrated reference on native and ornamental species for all of California. It provides systematic coverage of climate zones, water needs, plant lists and planting palettes on more than 2,100 plants in a beautifully designed and illustrated book.

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Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mohave Desert and Great Basin
Laird R. Blackwell
A guide to the native and naturalized wildflower species and showy shrubs of the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, including parts of the Mojave Desert and Great Basin. The 376 species are organized by elevation zone, flower color, and petal number.

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Trees and Shrubs for Dry California Landscapes 
Bob Perry, Land Design Publishing, 1981 
A coffee table size book (less expensive in paperback) with excellent color photographs. It covers many native and non-native species that thrive in our climate. This timeless book is especially useful for landscapers showing clients potential plants and trees. 

California Landscape Garden: Ecology, Culture, and Design
Mark Francis and Andreas Reimann, University of California Press, 1999
A very useful guide to the understanding of the general principles of landscaping with California natives. Recommended for "do it yourself" homeowners.

California Native Plants for the Garden
Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien, Cachuma Press, 2005
The best and most complete book to date devoted to native gardening. Covering over 500 plants with extensive profiles accompanied by excellent color photos, it also includes information on California habitats, horticultural history, design, resources, and more. This is a "must-have" book for backyard gardeners and professional landscapers.

Care and Maintenance of California Native Plant Gardens 
Bart O'Brien, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 2006
Available from California Native Plant Society: A very welcome addition to the native plant library. Chock full of information on planting, watering and maintaining native gardens. The bilingual text is an excellent idea since a large percentage of Southern California gardeners are Spanish speakers.

Designing California Native Gardens 
Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook, University of California Press, 2007
A practical native landscaping book with plans, photos, and plant descriptions. An emphasis on natural habitat communities makes this an outstanding addition to the native library.

Native Gardens for Dry Climates 
Sally Wasowski, Clarkson Potter, 1995
An inspirational and informational book for gardening with drought-tolerant plants throughout the Southwest.

Native Treasures: Gardening with the Plants of California 
Nevin Smith, University of California Press, 2006
A compilation of native gardening profiles from Fremontia over the years by an expert on the subject.

The New Sunset Western Garden Book 
Revised, Updated Edition
The bible for Western United States horticulture. Each new edition includes more California native plants and greater emphasis on drought-tolerant gardening techniques.