Theodore Payne
Be Loyal to Your State
It was on this day in 1872 that the English horticulturist, landscape designer, and botanist Theodore Payne was born.
He made his way from England to California. And, he was an early advocate for California native plants.
He started his own seedling business In 1903 in downtown Los Angeles.
His specialty was California native wildflower seeds, bulbs, and plants.
Payne was involved in the creation of many native plant gardens. In 1939, he created one at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, using 178 plant species and all were native to California.
It was Theodore Payne who said,
"Be a good Californian; be loyal to your own state and keep your landscape Californian, by planting trees from California."
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Theodore Payne
