Nicholas Hummingbird

When Nicholas Hummingbird was a child, his Cahuilla great-grandparents taught him to listen to plants, and how to steward their lands wisely and with respect. Today he keeps their memories and stories alive through his work restoring habitat and bringing nature back to concrete urban spaces. He has climbed down cliffsides to monitor endangered seabird nests. He founded nurseries and trained volunteer corps. He has propagated tens of thousands of native plants, including coast live oaks, white sage, and his favorite, laurel sumac. 

Nicholas teaches classes on native plant gardening, and consults for clients including the Autry Museum of the American West, the Los Angeles Times, UCLA, KCET public television, and Netflix. He and his young son Tuhui, whose name means the first drop of rain, enjoy hiking, cooking, and reading picture books. Nicholas’s debut, coming in 2024 from HarperCollins, introduces readers to ways we all can contribute to healing our cities, one native plant at a time.