4th Graders Learn uses of some California Native Plants

Last week Ms. Chaides 4th graders spent time in our new Native American Garden. The garden contains a lot of California sagebrush, monkey flower, deer grass, toyon and manzanita. We'll be adding more plants to it this winter.  We reviewed the fact that these plants can be found in our local Santa Monica Mountains that are visible from the school patio.

Manzanita has been used for medicine and food.  California sagebrush is used for medicine and is a plant used in smudging. It's leaves are very fragrant. Sticky monkey flower leaves are sticky, thus the name. Parts of it are used for medicine. The Native Americans have used the branches of deer grass to make baskets.

The students observed a white sage plant that we'll plant soon. The leaves are very fragrant and the Chumash made smudge sticks from the plant for use in ceremonies.

California sagebrush