Lot size: 25 x 15 sq. ft. front garden on tour, 75% native

Garden Age: Native garden was started in 2005; since 2007 only local natives have been planted.

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2

Showcase Feature: This restoration garden is planted primarily with natives from Contra Costa County (to find out which California natives are native to where you live visit www.cnplx.info/query.html).  Frances, who designed and installed the garden, chose low-maintenance, water-conserving plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting areas for birds and beneficial insects. Other Garden Attractions:

• The garden was infested with Bermuda grass when Frances moved in; go ahead, ask her how to fight this pesky weed—and win! (Hint, this involved many trips to Burger King for cardboard, and a lot of mulch.)
• Don’t miss Frances’ fabulous pollinator photos—the chubby queen bumblebee trying to fit into the poppy is cute; and the metallic green bee is beautiful.
• Be sure to take in the scents!  Crush leaves of the black and California sages.
• The East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will have an information table and membership offers.

Gardening for Wildlife: A variety of native pollen-, nectar-, and berry-bearing plants that flower at different times of the year feed and shelter native wildlife. “Watching who you feed is one of the most delightful parts of gardening!” says Frances.  In December the white flowering currant produces thousands of diminutive flowers; one particular type of bumble-bee visits Frances’ garden every winter, just for these blossoms.  When the black sage, bluewitch nightshade, and poppies come into bloom shortly thereafter, bumble and other bees come out in full force. Hummingbirds jealously guard the scarlet bugler; they also enjoy the summer-to-fall flowering California fuschia. Garden Talk: 11:00 and 4:00 “You can turn your own garden into a paradise for wildlife!” by Frances Dahlquist Dahlquist Garden Plan and Plant List