Illustrator Wendy MacNaughton visited the Petaluma Seed Bank, established in 2009 in a building that was once California’s Central Bank.
Monardella odoratissima Description This mound-forming perennial is typically seen in higher elevations in the interior West. The lavender or rose-purple flowers are attractive to insects, especially bees and butterflies. In the mint family, its stems are sturdy and erect, and it emits a fragrant aroma of mint when brushed. This plant is easy to establ
Schizachyrium scoparium Description Perennial, warm season bunchgrass; blue-green foliage turning bronze in the fall. Flowers in mid to late summer; heads are tufted racemes. Plants can reach heights of up to 4 feet. This plant can be found naturally in desert surroundings, along waterways, and in rock crevices. This is a long-living plant that can be
Purshia mexicana Description Description: Mexican cliffrose is the southern cousin of Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush) but is taller with pleasantly fragrant evergreen foliage and a gnarled form that can grow to six feet tall. The creamy white to pale yellow honey-scented flowers that cover the plant in late spring give way to long feathery se
Penstemon eatonii Description Bright scarlet flowers that shower from arching stems of firecracker penstemon have made this plant a favorite of many penstemon enthusiasts. The species is fo