Lot size: 10,000 sq. ft. back garden, 70% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in the fall of 2016
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase Feature
Martha and Kerwin hadn’t watered their lawns in two years; knew it was time to do something different—and did they! This garden was designed by Reka Foss, of Foss Garden Design. Roxy Wolosenko of Roxy Designs, who installed the new garden, removed 5,000 sq. feet of lawn (the Lee’s received $4,000 in rebates from EBMUD and Save Our Water). The water-guzzling turf was replaced by a less thirsty native bentgrass lawn. An inviting variety of shade-loving plants thrive under the shade of the towering oaks.
Other Garden Attractions
• The attractive rain garden collects rainwater from the roof and allows rainwater to slowly seep into the soil, thus protecting Las Trampas Creek, which flows through the rear of the garden, from scouring.
Gardening for Wildlife
The sound of falling water from the drilled rock fountain, the nearby creek, and the diversity of native plants have attracted red-tailed hawks, birds, bees, and butterflies. Native bees lay their eggs in the home-made bee box. Lizards bask on the boulders.
Garden Talks
11:00 and 1:00 “Replace your traditional lawn with a low-water use, sustainable, low-to-no-mow native sod. Come and hear about three kinds of turf replacement—bentgrass, Delta grassland, or “Native Mow-Free’”—by staff from the Delta Bluegrass Company
Music in the Garden
12:00-1:00 Take a seat and enjoy a performance by the award-winning Stanley Middle School’s “Jazz Messengers”.
Art in the Garden
Coyote Brush Studios will sell handmade zipper pouches made of cloth with native plant designs, as well as native plant prints, cards, and more.
Native Seeds for Sale
Wild Jules Native Wildflower Seed Balls will be available for sale.
