LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – From the day explorers set foot on the shores of California it became known as the “Land of Flowers.”

Why then do we continue to look to far away places for “wildflowers” not nearly as well suited for our environment as our native plants?

Many consider all wildflowers that grow in our woodlands, roadsides and fields – such as Queen Anne's lace, ox-eyed daisy, yarrow, chicory, broom and many others – without the aid of cultivation, to be natives.

However, they are in fact exotics that escaped cultivation after arriving with European settlers and many are aggressively displacing our natives.

A true California native is one that was present and thriving prior to European settlement.

As Californians we all have a responsibility to protect our native landscapes from the intrusion of alien plants. 

By using native plants in our landscapes we protect another resource – water!

When you think wildflowers, drought and semiarid climate, think California (Lake County) natives.

You're invited to learn more about landscaping with water conserving native flora and all phases of gardening at a meeting of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August) in the Scotts Valley Women's Club House at 2298 Hendricks Road near Lakeport. A light lunch is served.

The next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17, will feature University of California Master Gardener Kandy Hurley, who will provide a workshop from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on how to make wildflower seed balls and sow in your yard to attract birds and butterflies.

Hurley also will present a program on a seed ball garden project and club seed exchange.

For more information please call Marva Brandt at 707-279-1625 or visit www.clttgc.org .

Jerry Shaul is a member of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The U.C. Master Gardeners of Lake County will offer a series of public workshops this month.

The workshops are as follows.

– Wednesday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to noon: Rose pruning demonstration by Master Gardener Jim Harrell. Upper Lake.

– Wednesday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to noon: Grape pruning demonstration, Kelseyville.

– Wednesday, Feb. 25: Tool care and maintenance by Master Gardener Jim Harrell at the Agricultural Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

Participants at the pruning workshops should bring gloves and pruners for hands-on practice.

A $5 per person donation is requested for each workshop.

Call 707-263-6838 to RSVP and obtain further location information.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – There was a happy and excited buzz in Ms. Brummel’s fourth and fifth grade room as her students at the Lake County International Charter School (LCICS) in Middletown spent two hours creating and programming Lego robots.

This free workshop was offered by the Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS).

Three adult volunteers from CMAS guided students who were “stuck,” helped to find missing parts, and led a hearty round of applause when the teams of two got their robots to function successfully.

One team composed of Christian Wofford and Livia Ross was able to complete eight of the 12 possible robots during the session.

This was an all-time record for workshop participants who usually manage to complete two to four models in the two-hour time frame.

“This workshop was amazing! It was really fun,” said Christian.

This was the first workshop in which the CMAS volunteers saw two teams co-operate on one task.

One team created the “goal kicker” and another team created the “goalie.”

A wadded up paper towel served as the ball and was successfully kicked through the goal posts. Students cheered each score.

At the end of the session students sat in a circle and expressed compliments and gratitude for the opportunity to use the robot kits.

Younger students in grades second through third had a workshop after their lunch.

CMAS will schedule a free robot workshop when invited by any teacher, after school program, Scout group or other cluster of (minimum) six to eight students in Lake County.

Robots kits are appropriate for students in grades second through eighth.

Call Billy at 707-279-1514 to reserve a date.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The First 5 Lake Commission is announcing the acceptance of proposals for a three-year funding period from programs and projects that serve children between the ages of 0 to 5 and their families.

A pre-bid conference will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Kesey Room at the Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

Proposal directions may be found on the First 5 Lake Web site at www.firstfivelake.org .

The submission deadline is April 29, 2015. 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Gibson Museum and Cultural Center volunteers, filled with both pride and awe in the museum’s success in its first year, are eagerly working on plans for a First Anniversary Gala May 3.

Plans for the gala to be held that Sunday afternoon at the Twin Pine Casino & Hotel Event Center south of Middletown are not yet finalized.

Along with dinner, a raffle and other attractions, a stage show featuring local history and local talent is being orchestrated by Sophie Lauterborn, who garnered a prize ribbon for Gibson’s entry in the 2013 Middletown Days Parade.

Following up on the 1930s theme of the museum's grand opening, guests are urged to come to the anniversary party in costume, representing the historical period of their choice whether it be the Gay ‘90s, Roaring ‘20s, Happy Face ‘70s … or Neanderthal or futuristic.

Some folks seem still to be confused about the Gibson Museum's relationship to the Lake County Historical Society.

Both Gibson Museum and the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum (opened in 2011) are projects of the Lake county Historical Society.

Gibson’s efforts are focused on the history of important businesses in Lake County, such as quicksilver mining, mineral springs resorts and wine production.

Ely’s areas of interest are directed more to the county’s agricultural traditions. Both aim to preserve the heritage of the personalities and families that built our communities.

The development of South Lake County – comprising Middletown, Cobb and surrounding areas – is the focus of Gibson’s collection. Noticeable differences in the ambiance of south county and the towns near Clear Lake have been apparent since before Lake County was created in 1861.

Until 1870, virtually all of the valley land south of Spruce Grove Road was held in probate; land could be purchased only in the mountain areas.

Meantime, settlements were growing rapidly at Lower Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Upper Lake and other areas around the lake.

By the time Middletown was founded, the south county area bordering Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties was being overrun with prospectors looking for quicksilver claims, a population decidedly different than pioneers who merely wanted a place to call their own.

Only Middletown grew into a town, although many of the mining and resort communities retained their individual identities, and in their heyday boasted their own schools, churches, and butcher shops.

Gibson’s permanent displays are highlighted by artifacts from the mining camps that dotted the area, a large graphic display of native populations as discovered by archaeologists, and a fascinating collection of local geological specimens.

Beneath a 4-foot-wide photo of a 1960s billboard noting seventeen of the area’s famed resorts, a display case featuring local resorts is currently being reworked. Artifacts from Hoberg’s Resort, which became famed for its music and food rather than its waters and maintained its popularity well into the 1960s, will be replaced to recall other well-known resorts. Hoberg’s was recently reopened under entirely new management as a venue for popular music.

Harbin Hot Springs’ celebration of its 25th anniversary as a revivified retreat operated by the Heart Consciousness Church will headline displays mounted in February.

Harbin was apparently the first mineral springs in Lake County to be opened to the public and a favorite with visitors during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The display of handcrafted dolls by Elizabeth Eaholtz was so well received that it was held over for the month of January.

LCHS has moved its photo collection to Gibson’s temperature-and-humidity-controlled archives room, along with a set of Henry Mauldin’s 10,000 pages of historical notes and the archives of historic issues of the Pomo Bulletin.

The photo library is also available online at www.lakecountyhistory.org ; the Mauldin notes are at the museums in both Lakeport and Lower Lake.

Researchers can now access this valuable material, by appointment, at Gibson. Write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 707-809-8009 to make arrangements.

Gibson Museum’s volunteers are pleased with the recently installed identification on its front wall.

Nina Bouska is a volunteer with the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center, located at 21267 Calistoga St., http://www.cgibsonmuseum.com/ .

NICE, Calif. – The community is being asked to help find a cat that went missing from Nice last week.

“Sister” was last seen on Lee Street in Nice during the middle of last week.

She has white and gray tabby markings, and is super friendly, according to her owner.

If you have seen her or know where she is, please call Kayla Marie at 707-530-1854.