Lot size: 2,000 sq. ft. front garden, 75% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in spring of 2010
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Inspired by neighbor Ward Belding’s native plant garden, intent upon not using pesticides, and anticipating (correctly) that her children would rather play in a vibrant native plant garden than on a sterile lawn, Colleen designed and installed a garden that fulfills the above goals, and is also drought-tolerant, low maintenance, and attracts birds, bees, and butterflies.
Other Garden Attractions
- The fence in the back garden, lined with a variety of natives, including dogwood, California lilac, and toyon, among others, will create a privacy screen when mature.
- Stroll next door to Ward Belding’s garden, which is also on the Tour.
Gardening for Wildlife
Several varieties of native bees are drawn to the sages, California lilac, and buckwheats. Butterflies, including duskywings, painted ladies, dogface, and skippers flit throughout the garden, pausing to sip nectar or to lay eggs on the apricot desert mallow. Hummingbirds are drawn to the fuchsia, penstemon and monkeyflower, and they bathe in the gentle tumble of water in the columnar basalt fountain. Finches perch atop the fountain for a quick sip and splash. Fence lizards are spotted in less traveled areas of the yard. Slender salamanders are often uncovered during the rainy season.
