Just before a large rainstorm blew in Saturday, nearly 100 people attended the fourth-annual Native Plant Sale at the Calaveras County Water District’s Headquarters. The event took place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8, and was organized by the the Sierra Foothills Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) in partnership with CCWD.

Attendees chose from a wide variety of beautiful, healthy native plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grasses, bulbs and succulents.

This was the fourth year that the spring sale has been hosted by CCWD at its headquarters. The building is surrounded by native and drought-tolerant landscaping that was designed and planted in 2014 by Mountain Ranch resident Judy Dean as a Sierra Foothills CNPS-sponsored project. The landscaping is attractive all year long and is an excellent example of what the plants available at the sale will look like once established. The District hopes that its landscaping inspired visitors to incorporate native and drought-tolerant plants into their own gardens.

The proceeds from plant sales will benefit the Sierra Foothills Chapter of the CNPS.

Judy Dean’s husband, Bob Dean, spoke to Sierra Foothills Chapter’s desire to expand native plant use in gardens throughout the region.

“We do the sale twice a year to promote natives in the garden and educate people about the importance of natives as an evolved natural alternative to horticultural plants, which have many benefits beyond just being natives,” Bob said.

The Sierra Foothills Chapter of the CNPS has support system for developing native plants in area schools, Bob added, which includes giving grants that allow schools to purchase natives.

Those with questions about native plants may call Judy at (209)-754-5887 or visit http://www.cnps.org.