Greetings from Earthen,

 

Spring is unfolding slowly here in Central Oregon. The days stretch out and the winds carry that cool-but-sweet scent that only early April brings. Snowmelt is making its way down from the high country, and the soil is waking up.

 

This is a great month for observation. Even a short walk reveals subtle changes—green tips on rabbitbrush, tiny flowers budding beneath the sage. If you’re clearing your garden, consider pausing before cutting back all those winter stems. Many native bees are still sheltering there, and a little delay helps their survival.

 

Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the way native shrubs are shaping up right now. Some are just leafing out, others already blooming—and one, in particular, is starting to glow.

 

April Botanical Spotlight: Hairy Manzanita | Arctostaphylos columbiana

 

Hairy Manzanita is one of Central Oregon’s most striking native shrubs. Known for its reddish peeling bark and leathery green leaves, this member of the heath family thrives in the dry, open forests and rocky slopes of our region.

 

By April, mature Hairy Manzanitas are typically covered in small clusters of urn-shaped, pale pink blossoms—delicate, lantern-like flowers that hang beneath glossy foliage. These blooms are important nectar sources for early-season pollinators, especially native bees and hummingbirds.

 

This evergreen shrub can reach 6–15 feet in height and often grows with an open, sculptural form. True to its name, the leaves and young stems are covered in fine hairs, giving the plant a soft, felted look. It’s a beauty year-round—particularly when its bark catches the low sun, glowing reddish-brown.

 

Hairy Manzanita prefers full sun and excellent drainage. It’s perfect for rocky slopes, native restoration sites, or dry woodland edges. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, needing little more than admiration. One thing to note: avoid overwatering or fertilizing—this is a plant that thrives on tough love.

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As you walk local trails this month, keep an eye out for blooming manzanitas along ridgelines and hillsides. Their flowers may be modest, but their presence is anything but.

 

We wish you good footing, warm sun, and maybe even a surprise bloom or two this April.


Stay grounded,

Mike