Lot size: 900 sq. ft. back garden on tour, 90% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in April, 2008

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!

Showcase Feature: This small back yard with its heavy clay soil and poor drainage (sound familiar?) needed some TLC. In particular, Brenda and Steve wanted a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance garden that would provide habitat for wildlife.  Enter Greg Wolford of Californica Landscaping who designed and installed gently curving, wide garden beds that wrap gracefully around the Arizona flagstone patio.  Raised mounds provide drainage, which the natives need.  Deergrass, foothill needlegrass, and purple needlegrass, our state grass, mingle comfortably with rushes and reeds.  Monkeyflowers, gum plant, and cinquefoil provide cheerful yellow flowers in spring. Other Garden Attractions:

• “Secret garden” play area for children is tucked into a secluded corner.
• Buckeye, California lilac, Catalina cherry, toyon, elderberry, and native grape ring the garden, creating a sense of intimacy.
• Planting strip on the driveway is planted with redbud, manzanita, and currant.
• The scents of several types of sages waft on warm afternoon breezes.
• Walk across the street to Christopher Kroll’s garden, and 2 minutes down the block to Schoolhouse Creek Common, which is at the corner of Curtis and Virginia.

Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds flit happily to the fuchsia and currants.  Other resident birds include towhees, bushtits, mockingbirds, and gold and house finches, which are attracted by the berry-bearing toyon, thimbleberries, currants, manzanita, and elderberry.  Passing through the garden at different times of the year are western tanagers, hermit thrushes, orioles, cedar waxwings, and barn owls.  Bumblebees and the shiny, iridescent native bee (Osmia) frequent the garden. Newts make an occasional appearance. Plant list