California Native plant expert Nicholas Hummingbird, Cahuilla/Apache, is founder and manager of Hahamongna Nursery in Pasadena. The nursery, in the Arroyo Seco watershed, has four dozen species of plants under cultivation that are native to the L.A. Basin and surrounding hills. Blending commitment to his Native heritage with a desire to share knowledge, Nick is a persuasive spokesperson for the many benefits of native plants. We spoke with him earlier this year.
Why is Traditional Ecological Knowledge important?
Here, in California as a whole, indigenous people for thousands of years were so entwined with the land that the disappearance of our interaction with the land has really suffered. We were entwined that we learned our place and what we did would enhance things and nature was truly a part of our everyday well-being and our survival that we just destroyed it. We have to come back to that. We have to learn that there are impacts to what we do.
When we do realize that what we do impacts so much, we start to look at solutions. How can we do things better? How can we do things differently? Thats what we have to come to. Its easy to say that were the big problem but were not just going to go away like that. Theres still opportunity to fix this. Its [about] making better choices. Being hopeful. Trying to inspire others.
Nick Hummingbird in his nursery | Photo: KCET
--
--
So the importance of us as a cultural people is that were not living totally in the past. But were embodying the morals and values of our ancestors. For example, we take care of these [Juncus] patches to steward more for future generations, [so] that this plant may be in abundance like it was before. When we come here, we gather these seeds with the responsibility of growing more so that we can maintain a healthy and abundant [landscape] for the future. When we take these seeds, Im making a commitment that Im going to grow them. Nature has taken a few through the winds, dispersed some of the seeds, but theres still a lot [more to do].
Part of our stewardship role is to maintain our valuable plants. Because we didnt survive thousands of years without them. And, if you want to have thousands of years into the future, we need to start planting those seeds today so they can grow into a better, healthy tomorrow. When we bring these plants back into the cities, we invite nature back. We invite all the birds, the insects. And thats important. Restoring our culture is also restoring our balance, our stewardship role, our care taking role, our enhancing role. Teaching other people why these plants are important, not only to us but to nature.
more from tending the wild
Weaving Through the Fences: A Talk With Tima Link
Weaving the World Together
A Native Plan to Restore the Winter Run Chinook
1 of 8
next
Can you tell us about the Hahamongna Nursery?
We started off as a restoration industry to provide plants for restoration projects and the Arroyo Seco Watershed in the city of Pasadena. [Our mission was] to enhance water resources, to enhance the habitat, and at the same time really create a community around why restorations important.
Those projects have been held up but weve gone forward and grown a lot of plants. Our aim is to get people in Pasadena and the surrounding areas to basically look at alternatives to their landscape, because the big problem we have - and the problem thats been occurring for the past few years - is drought.
Basically what we have here is a huge asset for community with 10,000 native plants [that] werent here a year ago. Thats a huge accomplishment for many, many people who have come together for this place. This is an answer to our regions crisis of extinction, and habitat loss and destruction. We provide education for people and for a lot of young people, job skills training thats going to be necessary for people who want to go into the field of native plants, because its really a skill that you cant just learn anywhere.
Signage at the Hahamongna Nursery | Photo: KCET
What is the biggest threat to native plants?
The biggest threat to plants is just people not being educated. As they say, people dont care about things until theyre gone. Theres already been an extinction of 400 [California native] plants. Theyre gone and people still dont care. With 6,500 plants native to our state, 400 [are] already extinct. Theres 6,100 left. Next 20, 30 years, possibly half of those are going to be extinct. Right now is time of people learning about these numbers and doing something about it. Because its not just the plants that are going to go. Its the hundreds and thousands of insects and birds and coyotes, everything you can imagine, that survives off these plants.
Im hoping if you have children, you think about their future and those to come because what were doing is were stealing from [them]. We live in a world with very limited resources and that cant go on forever. I hope that this generation, through education, and future generations can help stem the tide and really make a difference. Because its up to us.
More on Native Plants
4 Reasons Joshua Trees Arent Out of the Woods Yet
Five Ways to See Fall Color in California
Whats A Native Species? Thats More Complicated Than You Might Think
1 of 4
next
How do you use social media and technology to spread your message of environmental and Indigenous rights?
I take a lot of pictures. Thats one of the things I like to do in my spare time. [When] I started using Instagram [it became this] tool. People from all over the world can see them. Heres a way to educate people. Ive incorporated plant facts and just names of certain plants that they can use as reference to check out. Then it came to political issues and issues that affect all of us environmentally. I always try to give people hope because its important to hav
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
California Native plant expert Nicholas Hummingbird, Cahuilla/Apache, is founder and manager of Hahamongna Nursery in Pasadena. The nursery, in the Arroyo Seco watershed, has four dozen species of plants under cultivation that are native to the L.A. Basin and surrounding hills. Blending commitment to his Native heritage with a desire to share knowledge, Nick is a persuasive spokesperson for the many benefits of native plants. We spoke with him earlier this year. 
