Gardens are being sought to participate in the Sunday, April 20, 2008 Going Native Garden Tour, which will showcase bird- and butterfly-friendly, pesticide-free, water conserving gardens. Gardens must be located in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County, and contain 50% or more California native plants. To submit your garden, visit www.GoingNativeGardenTour.org. The deadline is January 15, 2008. For more information, visit the web site or email info@goingnativegardentour.org.

Visitors on the free Going Native Garden Tour learn how to attract butterflies, birds and bees, garden without using pesticides, lower their water bills, design a low-maintenance garden, and select and care for California native plants. On tour day, over 40 showcase private gardens are open for viewing by the public for a 6 hour period. Select gardens feature talks on native plant gardening. Plants may be available for purchase at some gardens.

The Going Native Garden Tour showcases a wide variety of native gardens: established and mature gardens as well as newly installed ones; large acre lots and townhome gardens and all sizes in between; professionally installed gardens as well owner-enthusiast inspired ones. Garden contents range from the full horticultural suite of California natives to a mix of natives and Mediterranean plants to locally native plants.

If your garden contains 50% or more California native plants, and you are enthusiastic about sharing your garden and your experience with others, you are encouraged to submit your garden by filling out the Garden Submission Form at:

http://www.goingnativegardentour.org/

Website visitors can go on an etour of gardens from previous years, read garden descriptions, and download plant lists. Registration for the tour is open now.