Chatsworth : Park Will Spotlight Small Native Plants

With centuries-old oak trees and towering rock peaks grabbing the spotlight, brickelbush and California buckwheat are two of the many midget native plants visitors may overlook when they visit Chatsworth Oaks Park.

But Chris Van Schaack, a Chatsworth landscaper and plant enthusiast, wants to bring attention to these small residents of the park.

In a Sunday native plants landscaping session, Van Schaack hopes to be assisted by community members interested in learning more about the native plants and helping improve the environment.

Working with Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, he said he hopes Sunday’s native plants garden will be one of the first in a series he wants to establish in the San Fernando Valley.

“I’m interested in promoting community awareness as to our local environment,” Van Schaack said.

He said some of the plants in Oaks Park grow in few parts of the world. Preserving and growing new plants at the park, he said, will also attract native wildlife, such as certain species of birds that will nest and forage in the gardens.

Recreation and Parks gardener Mark Davies, who will assist in Sunday’s project, said he had never noticed the native plants until Van Schaack pointed them out.

“It’s so interesting. I can let [Van Schaack] talk for hours,” Davies said.

Van Schaack said aside from public parks, he will also contact schools and private businesses interested in setting up native plants displays.

As with future sessions, Van Schaack said the Sunday event is open to community members who won’t mind getting a little dirt under their fingernails.

Planting will begin at 11 a.m. at the park, 9301 Valley Circle Blvd., 1 1/2 miles west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.