Parking Park on West Shell Avenue Showcase Feature The parking strip in front of the house is bordered by fast-growing deergrass, a perennial that puts up graceful, two-foot-long golden plumes when in flower. Songbirds visit
Showcase Feature This charming, peaceful garden was created to provide habitat for wildlife. Large, blue black iridescent pipevine swallowtail butterflies lay their bright orange eggs on the Dutchman’s pipevine—the only plant they can reproduce on:
Showcase Feature This colorful, charming, gently sloping garden, which was designed by Reka Foss of Foss Garden Design, has something in flower almost all year long. The three varieties of manzanitas (‘Austin Griffiths’, ‘Paradise’, and
Entry to this gated community You’ll need to stop at the gatehouse entrance. Tell the security guard that you are going to Cyn Coulouthros’ house, and provide the address. Showcase Feature This artistic and inviting
Showcase Feature This beautiful and productive garden is anchored by eight varieties of California lilac and four of manzanita, as well as buckeye, coast live oak, and pacific wax myrtle. An orchard with sixteen varieties
Showcase Feature Roger and Amy spent a lot of time hiking in the Livermore hills observing and photographing the natural world in order to replicate it in their own garden: their hope was to create
Showcase Feature When Gonzalo and his husband bought this large corner lot in 2021 they knew the large Bermuda grass lawns and London plane trees had to go. In their place Gonzalo, owner of Planetscaper
Showcase Feature When Nora and Jay bought their home in 2011 the garden consisted of a lawn and nearly 100 prize-winning roses: also inherited were the garage full of pesticides that were used to maintain
Showcase Feature When Yen and Hai bought the house in 2022, this large corner lot contained two huge palm trees, lawn, and an eclectic collection of non-native shrubs. Shortly after purchasing the home they had
Showcase Feature The paths in this beautiful, elegant, and mature garden, which was designed by Tim, are bordered by a variety of evergreen shrubs from the coastal chaparral community, such as manzanita, California lilac, and
Showcase Feature Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and ecologist Doug Tallamy, Jacob was ready for the lawn and non-native ornamentals to go. After consulting with landscape designers Michael Hogan and Pete
Showcase Feature When Lindsay and her partner bought this house early in 2020 the front garden contained two enormous, highly flammable cypress trees that towered over a scruffy lawn and some scraggly hedges. It wasn’t
Showcase Feature This garden is on a steep slope and is accessed via many steps, some with no rail. This is not a garden for anyone with balance or mobility difficulties. When Anita and Mat
Showcase Feature Before its transformation, the backyard had consisted of a swing set, engulfed by 60- year-old wisteria vines. Enter Lois Simonds, owner of Gardening by Nature’s Design, who designed and installed this charming, colorful,
Showcase Feature When Mayur and Namita purchased the house in 2021 the back garden was mostly concrete, sparsely dotted with fruit trees and roses. The front yard, sparing the presence of a single magnolia, was
Showcase Feature Craig and Jenny’s garden is a continual work in progress. Inspired by biologist and author Doug Tallamy’s book Bringing Nature Home, they decided in 2024 to transform their outdoor space into a wildlife
Showcase Feature When Hannah and Mike bought this large corner lot in 2015 the back garden consisted of a scruffy lawn and weeds, presided over by a flimsy sun shade. Their dream was to have
Showcase Feature The Japanese-American family who were the first owners of this house left behind a lifetime of work in their legacy garden, with its Japanese tea house, stone lanterns, charming wooden bridge, cobble-filled ponds,
Showcase Feature Nancy, who has been attending the Tour since its inception in 2005, has long had an affinity for native plants, and it shows in the garden she designed and installed. The garden in
Showcase Feature Doug Tallamy’s talk on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour’s first virtual garden tour, in 2020, motivated Carol and Jeff to remove their recently installed “drought-tolerant” landscaping and replace it with California
Showcase Feature Long-time Tour goer Lainie was ready for a change. Despite the difficulties she has experienced gardening on her lot—exposed, hot areas; dry slopes in baking sun; and browsing by deer—she has gone all-out
Showcase Feature Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, informed by Doug Tallamy’s fascinating talk about the importance of native plants and caterpillars to birds, and desiring a garden that was both inviting
Showcase Feature The large lawn that covered this spacious corner lot when Glenn and David purchased the house in 2021 didn’t last long. Glenn, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, envisioned a garden
NOTE: The stones in the back garden path are uneven; please watch your step on them, and also be careful going up the steps that lead up to the seating area. Showcase Feature This charming
Showcase Feature It’s all about the birds, butterflies, and bees in this charming, wildlife-friendly garden, which was designed and installed by Erin and Keith. Starting from a base of basically zero, they have enjoyed watching
Showcase Feature It was a desire to recreate lost habitats of the East Bay—the wildflower meadows, grasslands, and oak savannas that existed here hundreds of years ago—and to provide resources for the wildlife that depend
Showcase Feature As a child working in his parents’ native plant garden, Scott was not drawn to the idea of gardening with nature. But as a new homeowner faced with a yard full of ice
Showcase Feature Breaking news! Josh and David's garden recently won the "Most Beautiful Yard Hayward" contest! Leading up to that honor was this story...Undaunted by the Bermuda grass in the front and back gardens (well,
Showcase Feature Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Doug Tallamy’s talks, Janet and Ed asked Pete Veilleux to remove the non-native ornamentals in their front garden and design and install a
Showcase Feature Long-time Garden Tour hosts Rose and Dan had their beautiful Alameda garden on the Tour several times. Upon relocating to Livermore in 2021, they immediately began work on a native garden at their
Showcase Feature Long-time Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour attendees and avid hikers Maria and David wanted to “bring nature home” and make their own garden a haven for pollinators. Through the Tour they visited
Showcase Feature Got a small garden? Wish you had one that was attractive to people and wildlife, low-maintenance, and used very little water? If so, this is the garden for you! The original garden consisted
Showcase Feature This delightful garden, designed and installed by Dave and Jennifer, is a riot of color in spring and summer, with nearly a hundred different types of natives blooming in a bountiful succession. The
Showcase Feature Rolland and Jen worked in the field of environmental restoration for decades. When they bought this house in 2011, they were eager to remove the plastic sheeting that covered the front garden, and
Showcase Feature When Susan and Bill's children were small they got a lot of use out of the large lawn in the back yard. Once the kids were grown, and inspired by gardens they saw
Showcase Feature This large corner lot contained an enormous lawn when Stefanie bought it, and this was exactly what she wanted. Stefanie, who has been attending the Tour since its inception in 2005, yearned to
Showcase Feature When Danny and Eugene bought their house in 2016 they knew the thirsty lawns and sprawling junipers had to go. The garden they designed and installed themselves transformed the space into a delightful
Showcase Feature NOTE: This garden has sloping ground and uneven steps. The back garden is accessed via a set of stairs with a handrail. This garden should not be visited by those with balance issues.
Showcase Feature The front garden of the Hillside Club features California native shade-loving plants, including Western azalea, currants, snowberry, dogwoods, and ferns, which are a beautiful complement to this historic building. The Hillside Club was
Showcase Feature A sheet mulching workshop held at neighbor Dixie Finley’s house inspired Laura to sheet mulch her own lawn away. The charming woodland garden that took its place was designed by Laura, and installed
Showcase Feature Nancy is passionate about both nature and archaeology; these interests intertwined in the development of the garden she designed and installed, which was modeled on ancient Roman gardens. The rectangular courtyard, planted with
The steps in the front garden are shallow; watch your footing, and hold the hand-rail. The backyard has stepping stones leading up a shallow hill; please watch your step. This garden is not for people
Showcase Feature In this beautiful front garden make-over, designed and installed by Lois Simonds of Gardening by Nature's Design, the front lawn was replaced with a charming seating area, which is surrounded and embraced by
Showcase Feature Michael has turned an area that formerly contained only exotics into a charming native plant garden. Wide, gracefully curving garden beds, provide the drainage that most natives need, wrap around a reduced lawn. Recently
Please do not park on Overhill Road. Showcase Feature Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Pat began removing the junipers, gravel, and weeds in her front yard. In their place she and
Showcase Feature For anyone interested in streamside or restoration gardening, or gardening for wildlife, this garden is a must-see. The Sorensons have spent the last thirty-five years restoring the creek side and adjacent uplands. The
Showcase Feature On Earth Day in 2007 volunteers and Park Superintendent Lucy Lawliss eyed the sterile lawn and exotics growing in front of the visitor center; realizing that this landscape was not reflective of John
Showcase feature This small, charming garden, designed and installed by Debbie, is a riot of color in the spring. Creamy milkweed and yarrow, pink clarkias, purple lupine and bright orange poppies reseed and move about
Note: This hillside garden is accessed via a narrow, sloping path. Watch your step. This garden is not for those with balance issues. Showcase Feature The local native plants in this large garden have created
