NURSERY WORKS: POLLINATORS, PLANTS, AND THE POWER OF YOUTH

Celeste Ayala (left), Martin Schenker (Middle), and Lilac Feliciano (Right) conduct a transect survey.

Thanks to a mix of showers, sunshine, and perseverance, spring is here and our two wonderful interns, Celeste and Lilac, are blooming right alongside the wildflowers! Just like the pollinators drawn to the sweetness of a hard-earned reward, they’ve been transforming the nursery into a season of growth, organization, and emerging leadership. 

During the cooler months, we sowed tray after tray of native seeds. Every raindrop, sunbeam, and hour dedicated by our interns has resulted in stellar germination rates. To prepare for the seedlings’ next stage of growth, Lilac and Celeste have equipped the nursery with sanitized pots and freshly amended soil. The interns have been giving the seedlings the space and resources they need to thrive, as they have been repotting these little sprouts with gentle and persistent care. 

At our nursery, we’re proud to grow native plants not only for OVLC’s restoration projects across the valley, but also for private landowners, local organizations, and community members. These plants mean more than pretty landscapes; they support long term habitat conservation and help create a more resilient valley. Thanks to our Nursery Internship Program, Celeste and Lilac are at the heart of this mission. Just a few weeks ago, Lilac and Celeste assisted a contract grow order, processing Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum), Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), and Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia) cuttings. As the weather warmed, our interns kept pace—transplanting seedlings and stepping up in new ways. Celeste and Lilac led weekly volunteer sessions and even took charge of watering operations while OVLC staff attended a conference. This spring, they also contributed meaningfully to a native planting event co-hosted by Pax and the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, helping restore a private lands site in partnership with the Turtle Conservancy. Now in its third year, the project is showing remarkable progress. Celeste was especially excited to see the Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla) she seeded just two years ago thriving in the field. 

Looking ahead, Celeste is gearing up for vegetation monitoring training. With guidance from our restoration team, she’ll help launch long-term monitoring at the Oranges to Oaks restoration site in the Ventura River Preserve. This work will support local biodiversity and deepen our understanding of the region’s ecosystems and ongoing restoration efforts. 

Spring is a season of renewal—and for our interns, a time of transformation. Through hands-on work with native plants, they’re not just caring for the land, but growing into empowered stewards of the environment. Their journey goes well beyond the nursery, and we’re excited to share how their skills and confidence in ecological restoration continue to take root. 

Madison Moore, Nursery Assistant & Restoration Field Crew