Lot size: 2,000 sq. ft. front and 6,000 sq. ft. back gardens, 90% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in the spring of 2009
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour:
Showcase Feature
Prior to its metamorphosis, this garden contained large thirsty lawns, bordered by juniper and box hedges. Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Cindy and Rick wanted to reduce water use, eliminate chemical use, and provide habitat for wildlife. After the Tour they went looking for a designer who could do the job and found Michael Thilgen and the team at Four Dimensions Landscape Company, who designed and installed the garden and removed the extensive lawns. Now, in the front garden a series of flagstone and decomposed granite paths wend through planted areas containing California lilac “Heart’s Desire”, Cleveland sage, lupines and more. In the large back garden a low-water-consuming native bunchgrass (red fescue) “lawn”, with accents of purple needle grass and wildflowers, is surrounded by mostly native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Plants bloom in the garden almost year-round. Designed to blend in with the adjacent open space, this sunny garden invites visitors to drop down into one of the numerous seating areas and enjoy the lovely views of Mt. Diablo and the East Bay Regional Park land.
Other Garden Attractions 
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• Water use has been reduced by more than 50% since the garden was transformed.
• Enjoy the spectacular view.
• A Four Dimensions Landscape Designer will be at the garden all day to answer questions.
Gardening for Wildlife
Native bees buzz the blooming California lilac and manzanitas. Northern checkerspot, Sara orangetip, fiery skipper, gray hairstreak, and swallowtail butterflies flit through the garden. Spotted and California towhees, golden- and white-crowned sparrows, and Townsend’s warblers, attracted to the many species of native seed, berry-bearing, and pollen and nectar producing plants, are just a few of the many types of birds that enjoy the native habitat.
Keystone species in this garden (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants—in this garden include oak, big leaf maple, California lilacs, manzanitas, pink flowering and golden currants, western redbud, lupine, wild rose, buckwheats, beach strawberry, sages, native sunflower, and penstemon.
Green Home Features
Over the years, their solar panels have saved this family $15,000 in PG&E bills, plus, they don’t pay for gas, as their electric car is powered by the sun.
Talks in the Garden
11:00 “Native medicinal plants for the garden” Casey Massman, Landscape Designer with Four Dimensions Landscape, will highlight native plants that have medicinal uses and their growing requirements. He will mention ethnobotanical and scientific books and resources for anyone who wishes to learn in greater detail about each use.
Video of Cindy and Richard Simons’ garden
2021 video of Cindy and Richard Simons’ garden
