Lot size: 40’ x 20’ sq. ft. front garden and 80’ x 20’ sq. ft. back garden on tour, 90% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2009

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!

Showcase Feature Lisa and Andy were tired of watering their large lawns. Inspired by neighbor Drew and John Andersen’s native plant garden, Lisa and Andy hired Alrie Middlebrook of Middlebrook Gardens (found on the Tour website under “Find a Designer”) to design the front garden, which they then installed. The back garden, which contains 50% natives, was designed and installed by Andy and Lisa.  In the front a medley of native wildflowers, including yarrow and poppies, brighten the red fescue bunchgrass meadow, which is accessed by a diminutive flagstone path. California lilac, manzanita, and coffeeberries provide greenery and structure throughout the year. Berms provide the drainage that most natives need.

Other Garden Attractions

• Water use will be reduced next year, when the native plants are established.
• Native fuchsia and sage flower from mid-summer through fall.
• In the back garden, a gently curving pathway meanders past a meadow containing phacelia, lupine, and clarkia, over to the play structure, and to another meadow.
• Walk three houses to Drew and John Andersen’s garden.

Gardening for Wildlife Carpenter bees adore the clarkias; other native bees, as well a variety of butterflies, visit the wildflowers in the meadows.  Native bees nest in the bee house thoughtfully provided by Lisa and Andy. Hummingbirds are drawn to the hummingbird sage and penstemon. Native Plants for Sale Native Revival will sell natives suited for hot, dry summers. Front garden plant list Back garden plant list