Fall 2021

A Help-the-Monarchs campaign piqued Maggie Becher’s interest in gardening, eventually leading her and her husband to start their own native plant nursery. SHORT CUTS NEIGHBORS A bout a decade ago, inspired by a help-the- monarchs campaign, Maggie Becher plant- IH WSQI QMPO[IIH 8LI TSXXIH TPERXW ¾SYVMWLIH atop her Carmel Valley picnic table. Inspired to learn more, the inexperienced gardener and her husband, David, registered for plant propagation classes at Monterey Peninsula College. Their fascination with California native plants grew, and in 2013 they established Blue Moon Native Garden. “I didn’t set out to start a business. I just wanted to help the monarchs. Now, I say that the monarchs helped me,” says Becher. She welcomes customers to the nursery by appointment, showcasing thousands of LERH [EXIVIH ¾S[IVW WLVYFW ERH XVIIW 7LI also ships from an extensive online seed store, updating the inventory each month. Becher collaborates with landscape archi- tects, contractors, hedgerow installation crews and other garden professionals, supplying plants for large-scale projects and custom jobs. For homeowners, she offers colorful options suited to distinct microclimates and diverse landscapes. She especially enjoys recommending blooms that bring pollinators to yards and gardens all year long. “I’m not the only one who wants hope and happiness in life. When you do a backyard res- XSVEXMSR ERH ]SY WYTTSVX XLI FIRI½GMEP MRWIGXW ERH FYXXIV¾MIW ERH FMVHW MX NYWX KMZIW ]SY WYGL E feeling of satisfaction,” Becher says. For online orders, appointments, and more infor- mation, please visit bluemoonnative.com . Native Plant Nurser y Blossoms in Carmel Valley B Y R ENE E B R I NCK S 70 ' % 6 1 ) 0 1 % + % > - 2 ) ˆ * % 0 0 Photo: Maggie Becher