Fallbrook Land Conservancy

Native Plant Spotlight: Cardinal Catchfly (Silene laciniata)

The Cardinal Catchfly is one of California's most eye-catching native wildflowers. This vibrant plant is a favorite of hummingbirds, providing an important nectar source throughout its blooming season.

While this beauty is popular on some of our off-site preserves, this brilliant scarlet-red bloom can be planted in your own garden! Its striking flowers brighten hillsides, chaparral habitats, and native gardens while supporting local pollinators.

Keep an eye out for Cardinal Catchfly on your next hike—you may spot a hummingbird stopping by for a visit!

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Our Star Party was a success—thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable evening of astronomy. The kids enjoyed guided telescope viewing, learned about the wonders above and discovered the important role of bats and pollinators. It was cloudy so not a lot of stars to be seen but we learned about constellations instead!

A special thank you to our presenters and volunteers who helped make the evening possible. We loved sharing this magical night with you and hope it inspired even more appreciation for protecting our dark skies. 🌙⭐🦇

ProtectOurNightSkies FallbrookLandConservancy

It’s time for a good before and after update!
Check out Appleton Preserve, wonderfully filling in with the native plants planted by 5th graders.

Our Native Plant Restoration Team has been watering the youngest native plants at Appleton and found lots of new growth.

Swipe to see last years photos! What a difference a year makes! Just imagine, if you planted your yard this year you could see growth like this in no time 😉

May is a busy month for everyone but we’re making it fun! This weekend we have TWO events on the calendar. Saturday evening (7-9:30pm) we have a FREE family event at William H Frazier elementary school. Join us for our Star Party where we’ll chat with a local astronomer, learn about bats as pollinators, and take a look through telescopes to see the stars!

On Sunday (4-7pm) we have our Wine & Wildflowers event among the flowers at our Sculpture Garden at Palomares house. This 21+ ticketed event is sponsored by Adobe Hill, Fallbrook Winery, Vineyard 1924 and Myrtle Creek Winery. This is a wonderful way to spend time together enjoying our local wines.

We have something for everyone! Which event are you most excited for?

Our Wellness Walks are such a fun way to meet people and get outside. Saturday we hosted at Los Jilgueros and it was a beautiful day for it!

Join us next time and be sure to follow for updates.

Sip, stroll, and soak in the beauty of spring... We're only a week away!

Join us for Wine & Wildflowers on May 17 from 4–7 PM at the stunning Palomares House Sculpture Garden in Fallbrook. Enjoy an evening of fine wine, blooming landscapes, and art in a truly magical setting.

🎟 Get your tickets: https://FLCwineandwildflowers.eventbrite.com or at the link in our bio!
🔞 Ages 21+ only

Don’t miss this unforgettable springtime experience, get your tickets today.
Emerald Grove Members receive 2 complimentary tickets.

Final call to join the Wellness Walk! 🚶‍♀️✨ Tomorrow morning at 9am at Los Jilgueros!

There’s still time to be part of this fun, feel-good community event. Get outside, get moving, and connect with others while taking a step toward better health.

Grab a friend, lace up your shoes, and come walk with us — we’d love to see you there! 💙

Did you know? California Poppies and Tree Poppies may look similar at first glance, but they’re actually very different plants! Both of these beautiful flowers are blooming at our Sculpture Garden and both of these photos were taken by Vera Lynn, an 11 year old, during our craft workshop!

Here's a helpful guide to tell them apart:

🧡 California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California’s official state flower
Bright orange blooms that open in the sun
Soft, fern-like foliage
Low-growing wildflower that spreads easily in fields and gardens
Loved by pollinators and thrives in dry conditions

💛 Island Bush Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii)

A tall native shrub, not a true poppy flower field plant
Features yellow poppy-like blooms
Woody stems and blue-green leaves
Can grow several feet tall and thrives on hillsides and chaparral slopes
Excellent for native landscaping and habitat gardens

Both are beautiful California natives that support local ecosystems and bring vibrant color to our landscapes! Have you spotted either of these blooming lately?