We create California native plant restoration gardens that support wildlife.
WE BELIEVE that each California native garden serves as an island for biodiversity - a landing place for birds, bees, and butterflies. Link enough of these islands and a corridor that supports pollinators throughout the urban landscape is created.
How do we do this?
- Create California native plant and Resilient Demonstration Gardens all over California
- Design private and public landscapes
- Provide open days, tours, and workdays
- Help developers, municipalities, urban planners, and beyond understand the impact these gardens can have on life (biodiversity)
- We educate, empowering everyone to create their own habitat garden with workshops and partnerships
Next:
- Map the square footage of our landscapes
- Create a public map of habitat gardens to visit in Sonoma and Marin Counties
- Observe who is coming to these landscapes using iNaturalist and other tools
Executive Director Update - February 27, 2026
Greetings and Happy Friday.
A couple of days of sun and I swear I can watch the plants grow before my eyes. Every time I glance at my Elderberry bush (Sambucus mexicana) out the front window, it's gained another inch. Soon I'll have that bright green privacy screen I've been waiting for — one of my favorites for quick screening, easily managed for height and density.
When I popped onto Calscape.org this week, I was reminded it also supports a whole suite of moths. If you're new here: Calscape is one of the most powerful tools in our native gardening journey, and it just got better. There's a new Pollinator Companion Tool (which I got to help with!) built by PhD candidates and researchers — science-based plant selection to help you choose the best plants for your pollinators. It's in beta, but already genuinely useful. Check it out: calscape.org/garden-planner — scroll down to the tool.
Today, while meeting about a new project, a Mournful Duskywing butterfly flittered around us and landed right in the path. Then yesterday, crossing a wetland on the way to another site, what I think was a Spring Azure greeted me. I know it's very woo-woo, but I take them as little signs we're heading in the right direction. More, please!
Peace,
April Owens, Executive Director
april@habitatcorridorproject.org
Our socials too: @habitatcorridorproject
Hope to see you in the garden!
Questions? Please email.
With Hope.
April
april@habitatcorridorproject.org
Events Coming Up:
And next Saturday, 10–12, We'll be out at Hall Park Pollinator Garden in Windsor for our first workday of the year. North end of the garden at 431 Jane Dr, Windsor, CA 95492
april@habitatcorridorproject.org for more information! Let me know if you are coming!
Our Story
April Owens and Nancy Bauer came together with a common passion for creating habitat in the urban landscape. Nancy, author of The California Wildlife Habitat Garden: How to Attract Bees, Butterflies, Birds, and Other Animals (UC Press), and April, a landscape design/build professional, bring our combined experience to create a growing urban landscape of habitat gardens.
April Owens
Executive Director and Co-Founder
April collaborates with a wide range of partners to create new corridor sites. She also oversees public landscape design services, serves as fundraiser and grant writer, gives talks, workshops, and more.
Nancy Bauer
Co-Founder
Nancy oversees habitat integrity for all of our demonstration gardens and creates wonderful content for our website and newsletter.
The Habitat Corridor is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code. Federal EIN #84-4353404