Lot size: 2,500 sq. ft. front and 250 sq. ft. side garden, 95% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in March of 2016
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 3
Showcase Feature 
Dale, a long-time Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour participant, was ready for the lawn and junipers to be replaced by a garden that would conserve water, be colorful, attract bees and butterflies—and have a more formal look than one often sees with native plant gardens. Dale began the transformation by attending the Tour’s “How to sheetmulch your lawn away (and get paid for it, too)!” workshop, then came home and covered his lawn with cardboard and wood chips. A rebate from the East Bay Municipal Utility District, native plant garden design by Alrie Middlebrook, and installation from Middlebrook Gardens completed the job. In summer, heady drifts of red fuchsia, purple lilac verbena ‘De la Mina’, aromatic purple-blue Cleveland sage and coyote mint, and pink rosy buckwheats both complement each other and delight the pollinators.
Other Garden Attractions 
- Raised planting areas provide the drainage most natives need, and retain rainwater on-site, keeping the garden green longer.
- The dry creek bed and a variety of boulders provide visual interest.
- A restroom is available! If you would like to powder your nose, this is the stop for you.
Gardening for Wildlife 
Hummingbirds are attracted to the fuchsia and sages; butterflies flutter about the lilac verbena; bees are happy everywhere in this garden.
Many people don’t know that without caterpillars, we will have no baby birds. Almost all baby birds must have caterpillars—thousands of them—while they are in the nest. These caterpillars come from the eggs laid by butterflies and moths, which will only lay their eggs on certain plants, called larval host plants.
Larval host plants in Dale’s garden include holly leaf cherry, sages, manzanitas, coyote brush, sunflowers, and buckwheat. Watch this terrific video by Douglas Tallamy to learn more!
Video
“Gardening with California native plants: Dale Wolford’s garden, Castro Valley, California” by Dale Wolford
