Total immersion in the local California Native Plant Society plant sale (Sierra College, Sept. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) is a fall experience not to be missed.

Where else can you spend a few hours on a Saturday morning buying natives for your landscape, attending educational lectures, and (perhaps best of all!) talking to the many native growers who eagerly share their knowledge?

The plant sale comes at the perfect time, the end of September. October and early November are the best time of the year for planting. The clay soil is warm and the growth of the plants is slowing.

Roots will develop before winter cold, and next summer, plants that began growth the previous fall will be stronger and need less irrigation.

A little planning before you walk into the sale will help you select natives. An enthusiastic local grower of Carpenteria californica, Brad Carter, tells me that there will be a large number of this attractive native evergreen for sale.

Now that he has discovered success with propagating ripened softwood, he has many Carpenteria in his own garden that were started from two one-gallon plants purchased at a Native Plant Society fall plant sale.

Carpenteria is commonly called bush anemone because of its large beautiful white flowers.

These scented flowers, opening in late spring and early summer, may be as large as 3 to 4 inches, striking in contrast to the attractive foliage.

The dark-green leaves are about 1 inch in width and 4 inches in length, with a glossy appearance.

This outstanding native evergreen grows best in partial shade, spreading to 4 to 6 feet with a similar height, giving it a mounding appearance.

With tall pines and oaks creating shady conditions in foothill landscapes, Carpenteria is a perfect choice for a low- irrigation evergreen.

Local native grower Nancy Gilbert values the buff-colored exfoliating bark on mature plants. She also observes that "from a design standpoint, one of the most beautiful aspects of Carpenteria is that its flowers glow in the evening, especially during the full moons."

She notes, too, that in 20 years of growing this native, deer and rabbits have not browsed it.

Arrive at the sale early, if possible. At 9 a.m. there will be a lecture about native ornamental grasses. Add these grasses to your list of "must-haves" and be ready for some serious plant shopping at 9:30 a.m.

At 11 a.m. local native grower Marcia Braga will give a presentation with lots of information about planting and caring for natives.

Look for the native dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) I wrote about in spring. Two other valuable natives that many foothill dwellers are often seeking are the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) that blooms along Sierra College Drive in early summer, and the western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) that colors our native landscape deep pink in early spring.

Once the initial fervor of the native plant sale quiets, talk to the local growers and society members who make themselves available. They have a wealth of information to share.

This past year several California Native Plant Society members volunteered countless hours to compile their photographs and knowledge. The beautiful end result of their efforts is an inspiring book, "Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer Counties, California," that will soon be released. This 436-page guide is thoroughly indexed, with 600 photos.

Native plants, books, informational lectures, and enthusiastic growers are the heart of the society's plant sale. A few hours spent at this local event may be the highlight of your fall gardening.

ooo

Carolyn Singer has gardened in Nevada County for 29 years. She opens her garden to propagation students each summer. Check the current schedule at www.fcgardens.com.