Visitors at the Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery earlier this year. Photo by Arroyo Seco Foundation.
Three months after closing for Southern California’s punishing summer heat, the Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery reopens September 20 with newly propagated bladderpod, manzanita, and hummingbird sage – species increasingly vital to restoring fire-scarred landscapes and preserving the region’s struggling ecosystem.
The nursery, managed by the century-old Arroyo Seco Foundation and staffed entirely by volunteers, has supplied plants to public parks and habitat restoration projects throughout the past year following the Eaton Fire. This autumn reopening marks the first opportunity since June for the public to purchase native plants at the Pasadena facility.
“We sell plants, but perhaps our primary mission is actually education,” says Matthew Karanian, a director of the Foundation. “We are here because we want to educate the public about the importance of native plants.”
California native plants, Karanian explains, are vital to preserving the ecosystem and maintaining healthy pollinators. “Native plants are also not thirsty, but that’s just one of their many benefits,” he says.
The nursery’s reopening coincides with the autumnal equinox, traditionally signaling the return to planting season in Southern California. “The cooler weather that arrives with the autumnal equinox is a signal to everyone that it’s time to get back to gardening,” Karanian says.
Throughout its summer hiatus, volunteers continued propagating and caring for plants, preparing inventory for the fall growing season. The nursery regularly sets aside important native plants for public purpose donations while offering free educational workshops and lectures, including a “Native Plants A to Z” series co-sponsored by Pasadena Water and Power.
Last month, Explore Los Angeles recognized Hahamongna as Pasadena’s Best Nursery, calling it “an absolute must-visit” for those “seeking a nursery that combines education with inspiration.”
The nursery, tucked into Hahamongna Watershed Park near NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will offer free coffee and refreshments at its 9 a.m. reopening at 4550 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena. Details: www.ArroyoSecoFoundation.org/nursery
