Seeds for nursery planted

Barbara Diamond

The babies in the nursery Robert Lawson conceived for Laguna Canyon

won’t need their diapers changed, but they might have to be repotted.

Lawson’s proposal to build, stock and maintain a nursery for the

restoration of native plants to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park has been

approved by the Coastal Greenbelt Authority, which manages the park,

and the boards of the Laguna Greenbelt Inc. and Laguna Canyon

Foundation. Both boards have approved funding for the project.

“I have already collected, cleaned, labeled and cataloged the

initial nursery stock,” Lawson said. “I am lucky to have a volunteer

with a ‘green thumb,’ a Nature Conservancy docent and a longtime

volunteer, my wife, Nanci.”

The primary objective for the nursery is the propagation of native

plants from stock in the park through volunteer efforts, Lawson said.

The nursery would also serve as a learning center for elementary and

high school programs.

“Laguna Canyon Foundation is pleased to participate in the funding

of this project as it directly meets our goals to protect, preserve

and enhance the wilderness park,” said Mary Fegraus, foundation

executive director.

Laguna Greenbelt Stewardship Committee Chair Scott Thomas said The

Nature Conservancy is reviewing the proposal and considering

contributing to the funding.

“The last step will be approval by the county’s Harbors, Beaches

and Parks Department,” Thomas said. “It is very important that the we

collect seeds with the genetic makeup that are typically found in

areas that we will be restoring in the canyon.”

The structure would be built on an already disturbed site about

100 feet east of the Ranger trailer, covered with shade-cloth to

protect the plants from sun and frost. Lawson said the structure

needs to be about 16 by 32 feet, the smaller side facing the road to

reduce impact, which will be further reduced by planting.

He presumes the county would build the structure and supply the

pebble flooring.

“That’s the current thinking,” Lawson said. “It all depends on how

funding, material and labor play out.” Under Lawson’s proposal,

volunteers would prepare the site, which would include clearing the

lot, building a ramp from the trailer, placing a plastic sheet under

the structure and some minor leveling.

Volunteers would staff the nursery. A volunteer coordinator would

be a good idea, Lawson said.

The nursery manager will be a member of the Laguna Greenbelt Inc.

Stewardship Committee, which Lawson is, and he has volunteered to

serve for two years, maybe three.

“That is my initial commitment to make sure this happens,” Lawson

said. “I am a determined kind of guy as my wife will attest.”

To make time for the nursery, Lawson resigned recently as

president of the Friends of the Aliso Viejo Library, where for four

years, he helped run a 30-member book store that raised $25,000 a

year,

Lawson gained expertise on native plants in his own backyard.

“Seven years ago, we did our backyard in California natives, where

I’ve learned to care for them,” Lawson said.

“Actually this whole thing began when I went on a hiking trip with

my mother and my wife, Nanci, and a young man who said he was a

docent. I asked how you did that and he said you take a class with

this lady, Elisabeth, at Saddleback College.”

Time passed, but the Lawsons finally took the class taught by

Elisabeth Brown, a professor of biology and perennial President of

Laguna Greenbelt Inc. Then they joined The Nature Conservancy, for

which they lead “Native Plant Hikes,” and later became members of the

Greenbelt.

He also has access to the California native plant horticulturist

at Soka University where he is on the staff in the information

technology department. To further his knowledge, he visits nurseries

such as the county-run Whiting Ranch Nursery and the commercial DM

Color Express. Most recently, the Lawsons visited The Nature

Conservancy ‘s native plant nursery at the Santa Rosa plateau, near

Lake Elsinore.

“Visiting other nurseries and meeting their resources should be an

ongoing part of the park nursery’s agenda,” Lawson said. “We know

enough to get going and there are 10 other projects, but it certainly

ranks up there.” The nursery is a Laguna Greenbelt Inc. project.

“I knew I wanted it done with a well-run, well-organized,

committed group,” said Lawson. “I needed a group like the Laguna

Greenbelt to make it happen.”

For more information about the park, the nursery or volunteering,

call (949) 923-2235.