Lot size: 5,670 sq. ft. lot, 45% native
Garden Age: Native garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2002
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 3
Showcase Feature:
Seeking beauty and privacy, John transformed this corner lot. The crabgrass lawn that covered most of the garden was dug out by hand; with 95% of the lawn gone, only one small, remnant patch of grass remains. In place of the lawn John designed and installed a series of artful, interesting, and inviting spaces for people and wildlife alike. Plan to linger; you won’t want to hurry away from the serenity of this garden with its variety of welcoming seating areas. While he began planting with Mediterranean species, now John chooses only natives. Ice plant in the parking strip was removed in the last year and replaced with native bunchgrasses and other low-water native species.
Other Garden Attractions:
- Weeds are pulled by hand.
- Raised beds provide drainage for the natives, while water drains naturally through the Sierra Gold fines and Golden Pathways gravel paths.
- The neighbor’s redwood fence was recycled and now surrounds the small vegetable garden. Check out the espaliered Fuji apples!
Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds, bushtits, song sparrows, Wilson’s warblers, downy woodpeckers, and hooded orioles love both the garden and the water-filled terra cotta saucers John thoughtfully puts out for them. Lizards, snakes and bees are also comfy here. Once a swarm of honeybees called the garden home for a short while, nestling in the white sage before settling elsewhere.
