Dear Shulgin Foundation community,

I am really happy to be able to provide a quick update regarding work in the garden at the Shulgin Farm.

On October 18, 2025, Zac Wallace, Mark Martini, and I met to walk the property, make notes, organize our thoughts, and plan ahead. We decided to tackle the main bed to the left of the driveway heading up the hill. Zac offered to get irrigation supplies and a truckload of compost to enrich the soil. I offered to donate a number of lovely, mature specimens for immediate planting. A notice went out on the Signal garden thread and Mark showed up, but I was also able to enlist two knowledgeable plant women to join us: the amazing Suz Vera and Jacqueline Lopez! We had a great day!

On November 15, the five of us met to get “down and dirty” spreading compost, laying drip line (with Zac’s lead), and planting the following species: Lactuca virosa, Leonotis leonurus, Tagetes lucida, Nicotiana alata, Iochroma fuchsiodes, Iochroma grandiflora, Salvia alpinia, Salvia melissodora, Withania somnifera, Valeriana jatamansi, Lycium barbarum, Galangal sp, Hierochloe odorata, Valeriana officinalis, Solandra sp, Justicia carnea, and Brugmansia aurea. Each of these plants has an interesting story and holds ethnobotanical significance. Eventually they will be properly labeled with their information in some sort of booklet. There are at least a few dozen more species to consider adding in the spring.

Our next job is to protect the plantings from the naughty gophers who dwell there. We are on it! Anyone wishing to get involved, please contact info@shulginfoundation.org and we will add you to the Signal garden thread. There will be a lot of plant activity come spring and we do have fun! Please join us if you feel called.

In botanical alliance,
Jane Straight