Ghost Pine Native Plant Nursery

News & Updates

December 2025 | Issue 4

Fall into Winter – This is still the season and a great time to plant native plants and get a jump start on 2026. The ground is moist, but the heavy rains have yet to come.

The theme of this newsletter issue is sustainability.

The three interconnected pillars of sustainability are environmental, social, and economic. Environmental sustainability ensures that we do not deplete or permanently damage natural resources. The path to keep this pillar upright is through responsible resource consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and employing renewable energy. And voilà, this dovetails with the heated debates during the recent UN Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil.

Sustainability and the UN Climate Summit - (COP30)

My latest blog post delves into the UN Climate Summit that ended in Brazil last month. I present a synopsis of the two-week long summit along with a bit of pent-up commentary. If we do not course correct towards sustainability, future generations will suffer.

Our GPNPN nonprofit centers around native plants, conserving natural resources, and sustainability. These paths intersect with the consumption of fossil fuels and the climate crisis. Since our current trajectory of carbon emissions and deforestation is not sustainable, the UN Climate Summit has tried for thirty years to rein in unsustainability.

Upcoming Events

Plant Talk: Sustainable Landscaping by Doug Mandel (yours truly)

This presentation sprouted from a University of California Master Gardener Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Doug Mandel, a Shasta Master Gardener and founder of this educational non-profit Ghost Pine Native Plant Nursery, will discuss various topics, including managing water use, nurturing the soil, practicing Sustainable Pest Management, gardening to conserve energy, and encouraging wildlife.

You will leave empowered with at least one idea for change in your more sustainable landscape.

Turtle Bay Garden Nursery

Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 AM to Noon

Learn More

Matson-Mowder-Howe Celebration Garden

Maintenance Party at the MMHCG

Managing the Matson-Mowder-Howe Celebration Garden is one of the core activities of the Ghost Pine Native Plant Nursery. This iconic community demonstration garden was part of the Redding Natural History Museum that eventually transitioned into the current Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

On Friday, December 5^th, six Shasta Master Gardeners (including one Master Gardener who just received her certificate) had a wonderful time as the crisp tule fog gave way to the soothing sun. I was amazed that a small group of Gardeners could showcase “cues to care” in just two hours.

If anyone would like to volunteer caring for the MMHCG, let me know, and I will add you to the to-notify list. Any level of gardeners are welcome.

Learn More About The MMHCG

The Nursery Is Always Open