Believe it or not, even a plain old parking lot can become habitat.

At SYRCL, we’re transforming sections of our parking lot into a native plant demonstration garden to show that native plants can thrive just about anywhere, even in spaces that aren’t traditionally thought of as gardens. Native bees, lizards, monarch butterflies, and other wildlife simply need places to live, feed, and rest. They don’t require a picture-perfect landscape design to benefit from native habitat.

Through this project, we hope to inspire other business owners, schools, and urban gardeners to create native plant spaces of their own. After all, SYRCL’s mission is to protect and restore the Yuba watershed, and our towns and urban areas are part of that watershed too. Native plants are well adapted to local conditions, drought tolerant, and capable of growing in less-than-ideal soils, making them a practical choice for many landscapes. 

We’re grateful for the community support helping bring this project to life. The Redbud Chapter of the California Native Plant Society awarded SYRCL a $1,500 grant, which will help fund additional topsoil and an interpretive sign explaining the project. The Xerces Society generously donated two Pollinator Garden Kits filled with native plants, and the Nevada County Master Gardeners are lending their expertise along the way.

Work on our second planting bed begins in late October. Volunteers will help remove existing plants, prepare the soil, and install the new pollinator-friendly garden. If you like getting your hands dirty, have questions about the project, or have native plant starts you’d like to donate, contact Jessica Haro at jessica@yubariver.org. 

Come help us turn a parking lot into pollinator paradise!