This is it. This is when the season turns and, somehow, we get to start over.While much of the country slows into frost and dormancy, Southern California leans the other way. Our renewal begins with the first cool evenings, the smell of damp soil, and that collective sigh when the heat finally breaks.
Now is the time to clear what’s brittle and make space for what’s next. Time to tuck seeds into the earth and trust that something will come of it. The change of seasons reminds us that rest and renewal aren’t opposites–they’re partners in the same cycle.
Working with native plants teaches this lesson over and over: adaptation, patience, resilience. These plants know where they are. They’ve been shaped by fire, drought, and unpredictability, yet they persist, quietly making beauty, shade, and food for others.
Each patch of native habitat–every yard, parkway, or forgotten corner–becomes a small act of repair. And right now, the work of healing our ecology is more essential than ever.
Will you join us in planting renewal this season?
Gifts through the end of the year will be matched up to $100,000 thanks to a generous pledge from the Friends of Ted.
With your investment, we’ll grow more native plants, build more habitat, and train more stewards—creating spaces that sustain life and hope.
Give Now for Double the Impact
Your support pays for…
- Collection, storage, and propagation of local seeds, directly contributing to the biodiversity of native habitat in our region.
- Cultivation of over 900 taxa of native plants, including threatened and difficult-to-propagate species.
- Development and delivery of high-quality, practical horticultural education for the community, including science-based methods to live with nature, prevent fires, and save water.
- Expansion of our certification program for landscape professionals, leading to better land stewardship and better jobs.
- Outreach and community engagement through events like the Annual Native Plant Garden Tour and the Wildflower Hotline.
- Collaboration, coordination, and contribution to local initiatives that result in more native habitat.
Giving is easy. You can:
- Make a one-time or recurring gift by clicking here.
- Give from your Donor Advised Fund. Tax ID: 95-6095398.
- Donate stocks or other securities: Instructions here
- Write a check to ‘Theodore Payne Foundation’ and mail it to 10459 Tuxford Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352.
See All the Ways to Give Here
Thank you for your commitment to a future landscape defined by healthy, functional ecosystems.
Sending health and renewal to you and yours,
Amy Greenwood Ph.D.
Executive Director