Carol Baird and Alan Harper’s garden ♿️ #31

Oakland

Lot size: 5 acres, 100% natives in the oak woodland and on the dry stream bed restoration trail

Garden Age: This hillside restoration has been carried out in stages, beginning in 2003

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 8

Showcase Feature

NOTE: The woodland trail is narrow, unpaved, and sloping. It should not be walked by those with balance issues.

A majestic north-facing oak and bay woodland with a thriving, diverse understory of native plants graces this lovely property. If you have oaks, this garden is a must-see! Wear sturdy shoes and take the narrow path up the slope through the intact native woodland, which is tended by Kiah Dennerstein of Liminal Grounds. Kiah, who has studied the medicinal uses of native plants of California, would be delighted to talk with you about this: ask her!.

Other Garden Attractions

In the record-breaking rain at the end of 2022, a large landslide developed, taking out a few trees and opening up a half acre of open space. Come see how this area is being restored with local native plants.
Near the landslide, a trail leads to a dry stream restored from a hemlock infestation and now planted with sword ferns and other native plants.
See how selective weeding (the Bradley Method) has allowed the native biodiversity to flourish under the oak-bay canopy.
In spite of the erosion that occurred in the 2022 rains, an increasing number of California newts (Taricha torosa) are being seen in the garden.

Gardening for Wildlife

In May, variable checkerspot, swallowtail, and other butterflies are frequently seen, as are alligator and western fence lizards, and a variety of native bees. More rarely seen are slender salamanders, ring-necked and gopher snakes, and western rattlers. Commonly seen birds include Anna’s hummingbirds, Hutton’s vireos, and orange-crowned warblers, but western tanagers, and even a piliated woodpecker, have been spotted.

Keystone species in this garden (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants—in this garden include oak, wild rose, California lilac, gooseberry, hazelnut, lupine, manzanita, aster, native strawberry, ocean spray, elderberry, and sages.

Displays
Kiah Dennerstein will have a medicinal plant tea station offering education about local plants that can be made into teas, tinctures, and oils.