Fire-Resilient Landscaping with Native Plants
The Solana Beach Civic & Historical Society invites all to join their meeting on Thursday, April 16th at 5:00 PM at the Fletcher Cove Community Center to discuss fire-resilient landscaping with native plants. The meeting will feature an over view of local efforts to expand local native pollinator habitat, and a special presentation by fire-ecology expert Greg Ruben, the owner of California's Own Native Landscape Design. Expanding native habitats in Solana Beach can help protect houses and surrounding land during wildfire season.
Greg Ruben has 31 years of experience in native plant design and landscaping, and is a recognized leader in the field. "We've had 25 client homes that have experience major fire events...and we have yet to lost a home," he says. Although there are no guarantees, his approach to fire-resilient landscaping also was successfully tested in a four-year government study.
He has been working with California native plants since 1985. By 1993, he was able to transition out of his career as an aerospace engineer to devote all of his time to his landscaping business, which has designed more than 825 native landscapes in Southern California. Specialties include residential, commercial, and institutional gardens providing year-round appeal, low maintenance, water efficiency, rich pollinator and wildlife habitat, and fire-resistance.
Greg was named 2018 San Diego Horticulturist of the Year. He has been featured in a number of periodicals including the Wall Street Journal, San Diego Union Tribune, Loas Angeles Times, and Sunset and San Diego Home and Garden magazines. He is co-author of two books with Lucy Warren: "The California Native Landscape: the Homeowners' Design guide to Restoring its Beauty and Balance" and "The Drought-Defying California Garden." Greg has also served on the boards of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, California Native Plant Society, the Lux Art Institute, and the Garden Native foundation.
Hans Schmidt, Interim Fire Marshal for the Solana Beach and Del Mar Fire Departments, will also be on hand to address questions you may have about the Department's recommendations for creating defensible space and "hardening" to protect your home from wildfires.
Learn more about Defensible Space here.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Fletcher Cove Community Center is located at 133 Pacific Avenue, Solana Beach 92075.
