You could try checking out Las Pilitas Nursery ( http://www.laspilitas.com/ ); it has quite an extensive database for native plants--including a native plant "finder" that will find something that suits your situation (though planting in proximity to the lawn might pose some issues from competition for nutrients). My personal favorites for California native plants are (as my ID indicates) Manzanitas (which aren't quite suitable to be placed nearby the lawn), California Fuchsias (these can be planted closer to the lawn if you want), Monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus can live nearby the lawn, being that it lives in riparian habitats in the wild), and Sages (there's so many aromatic sages in California, with some species capable of tolerating more water). California has quite diverse climate that produces various natives suitable for a multitude of environments; there's probably something that can work for you. This post was edited by CAManzanita on Mon, Sep 2, 13 at 19:21

thanks.

Midwestern friends - Just wanted to invite you to attend the Wild Ones Annual Conference July 14-16 in Naperville, Illinois. We have a wide variety of courses we're offering on topics including sedges, native trees, native plant 101, landscape design, birdscaping, dealing with invasives, wildlife and habitat, outdoor classrooms, children's education, stormwater management, and more. We're also having a photo contest (you do not need to attend the conference to enter) and important speakers such as Gerould Wilhelm, author of Plants of the Chicago Region, Darrel Morrison, designer of the Ladybird Johnson Wildlife Center, and Michael Jeffords, scientist, entomologist, ecologist, photographer and co-author of Illinois Wilds. In addition, we've lined up some phenomenal tours of local restoration projects, nurseries, green building, native plant roofs, etc. For more information and to register now for early bird pricing, go to http://www.for-wild.org/conference/2006/. Leslie Cummings Communications Specialist Wild Ones, DuPage County, IL Chapter

Info on Mosquito Dunks; Summit Chemical has created Bti Mosquito Briquettes/Dunks. Mosquito Dunks are a sustained-release larvicide that conveniently floats right on the water surface. These Dunks can be used in virtually any standing water site where mosquito larvae grow. As the Dunks float, BTI (or bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a natural mosquito-killing biocontrol agent) is slowly released at the waterÂs surface and gradually settles in the water where it is consumed by mosquito larvae. Bti kills mosquito larvae before they are able to grow into mature, biting adults, eventually controlling the mosquito population. Additionally, the toxin will continue to be released into the water for a period of 30 days or more, providing continuous kill. SAFE FOR USE IN FISH HABITATS Outdoor Use around the Household to kill Mosquito Larvae: Summit B.t.i. BRIQUETTES/DUNKS can be broken into portions for use in many outdoor applications near the household, such as standing water in bird baths, old automobile tires, rain barrels, ponds, abandoned or unused swimming pools (particularly above ground types), ditches, tree holes, roof gutters for collecting rainwater, flower pots, animal watering troughs or any other locations near the household where water collects and remains for periods of time. Lou