Lot size: 600 sq. ft. front, 340 sq. ft. side, and 1,000 sq. ft. back garden, 80% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2022
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Showcase Feature
Long-time Garden Tour hosts Jen 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 new home.
They consulted Todd Gilens of Todd Gilens Design, and also with Dale Gaff, a retired landscape architect—and Dan’s father—for the first phase of planting in 2022. More recently, they consulted with Kelly Marshall for the second stage of the evolving garden, which was planted in 2024. Jen and Dan installed the garden themselves.
Their beautiful and inviting back garden includes heat-loving natives, such as several types of manzanitas, white sage, apricot mallow, and penstemons. Their front yard boasts a trio of flowering currants, as well as John Dourley manzanitas, mountain mahogany, toyon, and many native grasses.
Jen and Dan will share with you how they adapted their garden to the intense summer heat and hard clay soil of the inland valley, and how they chose plants that provide year-round color, texture, and pollinator interest. Come see two young gardens that are already thriving in the inland sunshine.
Other Garden Attractions
• Did you know you can get paid to remove your lawn? Check out the materials on lawn removal rebates that will be available.
Gardening for Wildlife
Scrub jays, house finches, goldfinches, woodpeckers, mockingbirds, sparrows, black phoebes, doves, chickadees, and hummingbirds now frequent the garden.
This garden has also attracted a variety of butterflies; you might spot gulf fritillaries, painted ladies, buckeyes, red admirals, swallowtails, and gray hairstreaks fluttering about.
Garden Talks
12:00 “How to sheet mulch your lawn away” by Dan Gaff
1:00 “The best plants for a pollinator garden” by Jen Hurley and Dan Gaff
Keystone species in this garden (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants — in this garden include goldenrod, buckwheat, California lilac, manzanita, asters, sages, and penstemons.
Green Home Features
Solar panels were installed in 2022 and provide almost 100% of all electric power this home uses.
Wondering what to make for dinner? Try this recipe, which was submitted by garden tour host Jen Hurley!
Brussel sprout salad
