Artist Alexander Vidal illustrates the unique topography of Los Angeles and the breadth of flora and fauna in our own backyards. This visual reminds us of our power as native plant gardeners to create a patchwork of habitat all over the region. The artwork—notably absent of the asphalt arteries that fragment and dissect the land—reminds us of the once-contiguous habitat that our gardens seek to reclaim.

The Native Plant Garden Tour is a two-day, self-guided tour across Greater Los Angeles. Since 2003, more than 700 public and private landscapes have participated in the Native Plant Garden Tour. Ranging from coastal container gardens to experimental urban homesteads to, each unique design offers beauty and critical habitat for wildlife. The gardens on this tour contain at least 50 percent native plants.