Irvine Ranch Conservancy Celebrates Wildflower Season
on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks
Virtual “Wildflower Week” will explore native flowers on the Landmarks, plus wildfire recovery efforts at Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Native Seed Farm
Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) invites nature lovers to experience native wildflowers on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks this spring with a virtual “Wildflower Week” happening March 22-26. Throughout the week, IRC will share fun facts about the beautiful blooms found throughout Orange County, wildflower restoration efforts on the Landmarks and information about the Conservancy’s Native Seed Farm.
Join IRC’s virtual “Wildflower Week” and admire native wildflowers from your home by “liking” the Landmarks’ Facebook page (Facebook.com/irlandmarks), following on Twitter (@IRLandmarks), and following on Instagram (@OCMountainstoSea). To share your own images of wildflowers on the Landmarks, tag @OCMountainsToSea on Instagram and @IRLandmarks on Facebook and Twitter.
In addition to highlighting Orange County’s beautiful native wildflowers, the virtual “Wildflower Week” will give viewers an inside look at IRC’s 14-acre Native Seed Farm in North Irvine. Established in 2009, the Native Seed Farm was created to meet the growing demand for native plants needed for restoration efforts on the Landmarks. The Farm has become an integral part of restoration efforts on the Landmarks, producing a half-ton of seed each year and planting more than 75,000 native plants out on the land.
In October 2020, the Native Seed Farm was partially affected by the Silverado Fire, which damaged the Farm’s irrigation system and some of the native plants being grown for seed harvesting. However, efforts are underway to repair the irrigation system, and the team has found ways to continue cultivating native plants in the meantime.
In addition to the wildfire recovery efforts, IRC has added a new feature to the Native Seed Farm – the Demonstration Garden. The new garden will be used for future programs and activities, where visitors can learn more about native plants found on the Landmarks, as well as how they can be used for food, medicine and more. IRC and the Native Seed Farm staff look forward to welcoming visitors back to the Farm and unveiling the Demonstration Garden when it is safe to do so.
For more information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy and native wildflowers on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization created in 2005 to help preserve and support the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, enhancing the public’s connection to the land while helping partners and landowners with all aspects of stewardship. The Conservancy offers a variety of free, guided outdoor programs for all nature enthusiasts including hiking, mountain biking, horse-back riding and much more. For more information, visit www.letsgooutside.org.
Laura Lanzi
PR & Marketing Coordinator
The ACE Agency
Photo Credit: Irvine Ranch Conservancy
