Lot size: 2,275 sq. ft. front and 3,915 sq. ft. back garden, 70% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2017
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour:
Showcase Feature
Anne and Ed, who have attended the Tour since its inception, hired Michael Thilgen, of Four Dimensions Landscape, to design and install this peaceful and productive garden. In the back yard the swimming pool, lawn, and Monterey pines were removed, more space for growing edibles was created, and the balance of the garden was planted with mostly local California native plants, which make a charming understory to the fruit trees. Valley oak, coast silktassel, toyon, manzanita, and coffeeberry provide greenery and structure throughout the year.
While listening to Doug Tallamy explain how non-native ornamentals provide little to no value to wildlife, Ed realized that agapanthus were from South Africa, got up in the middle of the talk, and tore them out of the ground. In a cooler moment, he and Anne reviewed the rest of the non-native ornamentals in their front garden, and eliminated those they didn’t absolutely love, plus those that didn’t survive the no-water regime that was implemented this summer. Return visitor alert! You’ll see more natives in the front garden this year!
Drop down in one of the many seating areas in this peaceful garden, enjoy the sound of the waterfall splashing into the pool, and rest a while; you won’t want to leave.
Other Garden Attractions
• Thirty varieties of fruit trees will be found in the garden, including Violette de Bordeux fig, Lamb Abbey Pearmain and Spitzenburg apples, and Seckel and Comice pears, among others.
• In addition to the plethora of fruit trees, this garden contains a cornucopia of vegetables, such as winter squash, zucchini, asparagus, artichokes, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and more.
• It’s all in the family! Anne’s step-sister, Clytia, also has a native plant garden that has been on the Tour in prior years; see Clytia Curley’s garden.
• In the morning, visit the RecycleSmart table and learn how to make and use compost that will improve your soil, grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, improve water quality, and protect the environment.
• Caitlin Smith, Design Associate with Four Dimensions, will be at this garden all day to answer your questions.
COME ON IN THIS FULLY-ELECTRIFIED HOME! Anne and Ed’s fully-electrified home has a SanCO2 heat pump for heating water, and a Fujitsu ducted heat pump system for heating and cooling the house; these were installed by EcoPerformance Builders.
R-50 level attic insulation was installed by Ecoperformance Builders when the HVAC heat pump was being installed, to allow the house to retain heated or cooled air more efficiently.
Step inside to see the air intake and vents for the heat pump, and check out the Wolf induction range. Tesla solar roof tiles provide all the power this home needs, and two 13Kwh lithium Tesla PowerWall batteries keep the lights on at night, on rainy or foggy days, and during power outages. A heat pump clothes dryer replaced the gas dryer.
LED lighting is used throughout the house.
All day: A friendly QuitCarbon staff member will be available all day to answer your electrification questions. Quit Carbon’s mission is to help homeowners transition to green energy; they can help you get a better, healthier, clean-energy dream home by giving you the confidence, information, and connections you need to go 100% electric. Chat with a QuitCarbon expert to learn how Quit Carbon can support you through every home upgrade—starting with a free electrification plan.
Ask them, or the other volunteers who will be on hand, any of your electrification questions!
Gardening for Wildlife
Grey foxes, quail, western fence and alligator lizards (drawn to the boulders and rock wall), and California night snakes frequent the garden.
Garden Talks
10:00 “Incorporating edibles into your California native landscape” Caitlin Smith, Design Associate with Four Dimensions Landscape, will discuss design considerations and native/edible plant combo strategies
11:00 “The process of getting, and benefits of having, an all-electric home: How we replaced our gas furnace, water heater, stove, dryer and car, power them with energy from the solar roof and keep everything on during power outages with batteries, while saving money, enjoying better indoor air quality, and eliminating our contribution to climate change” by Anne 
Chambers and Ed McAlpine
2:00 “Planning and maintaining your backyard fruit tree orchard” by Anne Chambers and Ed McAlpine
Videos
“Gardening with California native plants: Ann Chambers and Ed McAlpine’s garden, Moraga, California” by Ann Chambers and Ed McAlpine
“Our electrified home: Tesla roof, Powerwall batteries, and induction range.”
