Kevin Callahan’s Garden
San Leandro
Gardening experience: 4 years
Years gardened at this location: 4 years
Size: 4,000 square feet
Showcase feature: This native plant garden was designed and installed by the owner in January of 2003. Kevin’s goals were to eliminate the use of pesticides, conserve water, have color in the garden, and provide habitat for wildlife. He is justifiably proud of having converted the garden from an “ecological desert to a garden that provides wildlife habitat.” Ask this gardener how he removed the lawn, laid out the design for the garden, and selected the plants.
Other garden attractions:
- The front garden was formerly over-run by crab-grass and “pom-pom poodly
bushes.” - The garden is planted with local natives, and natives from throughout
California. - Zero lawn in front (it was pulled up), reduced lawn in backyard.
- Gardener received an East Bay MUD rebate of $1,000 to reduce water use.
The rebate paid for part of the plants and drip irrigation system. The
garden now uses very little water.
Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, newts, jays, mockingbirds, and beneficial insects frequent this garden, which is planted with great wildlife plants such as oaks, coffeeberry, toyon, manzanita, ribes, buckwheats, mikweed, coneflowers, native grasses, and more.
Garden Talks: 11:00 and 2:00 “Converting a Flat and Sunny Lawn into a Native Paradise”
Read Kevin’s account “How I Got Started Gardening with Natives”.