Lot size: 840 sq. ft. front garden, 700 sq. ft. back garden, 480 sq. ft. side garden, 90% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in November 2009
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase Feature: Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, and having fallen in love with Glen Schneider and his natural-looking local native plant garden, Jason and Rachel asked Glen to design a garden with a wild look, drought-resistant plants, color, variety, and beautiful scents. Glen delivered—creating a garden with a delightful selection of native plants naturally found within 30 miles of their Berkeley home. In spring this new garden is ablaze with a show-stopping array of wildflowers—Chinese houses, clarkia, poppies and more.
Other Garden Attractions:
- The front yard recreates a California meadow while shady areas contain plants found in California woodland areas.
- New homeowners Jason and Rachel wanted to do something for the neighborhood, and did; children from the nearby school now take field trips to the garden. And on a number of mornings last spring an amateur painter set up her easel under the tree in the front garden, entranced by the vibrant display of color.
- The Bolero Dwarf Fescue lawn was watered three times last summer.
- Wood chip paths allow rainwater to seep naturally into the ground.
Gardening for Wildlife: Native bees adore this garden; the poppies have a special effect on the bumblebees, which roll in them like aerial-borne puppies. Butterflies appreciate the broad landing pads of the cow parsnip. The delicate, orchid-like flowers of the soap plant bloom in the late afternoon and early evening, attracting moths, which pollinate them. Hummingbirds are drawn the California fuchsia. Plant list
