Lot size: 2,000 sq. ft. front garden, 80% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2008
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Alma, who has been a California Native Plant Society member, off and on, since the early 1960’s, has had a long time interest in native plants. It was only after retiring though, that her “inner native plant” persona was able to burst forth—and did it! Kim Larsen of Dragonfly Designs, who designed the garden, had the lawn and junipers removed; in their place are a reliable suite of native shrubs such as manzanita, coffeeberry, California lilac and Oregon grape, which give year-round color and structure to the garden. In spring the garden is a vibrant sea of Chinese houses, poppies, meadowfoam, and bird’s eye gilia.
Other Garden Attractions
- Alma reports that her water use has “dropped tremendously” since the lawn was removed.
- In the shady area near the house are a lush selection of currants, swordferns, coral bells, columbine and thimbleberry.
Gardening for Wildlife
Nearly forty species of birds have been seen in or above the garden, including Coopers, redtail, and sparrow hawks, quail, Nuttall’s woodpeckers, red-breasted nuthatches, Bewick’s wrens, hermit thrushes, and ruby crowned kinglets. Gopher, rosy boa, garter, and king snakes have been spotted. Pacific chorus frogs call the garden home. During the daytime swallowtail butterflies and skippers frequent the garden, as do native carpenter and bumblebees. In the evening bats swoop overhead.
