Lot size: 111 x 32 sq. ft. back garden slope on tour, 90% native

Garden Age: Natives have been planted on this slope in stages, beginning in 2005

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2

Showcase feature: This garden was inspired by a desire to attract and provide habitat for wildlife, and to create an enjoyable view and living space, while minimizing future labor and water use.  Nearly 100 species of natives, grouped by water needs, have been incorporated into the shady slope of this large back yard garden, which was designed and installed by Mary and Dennis.  Low water-use natives (watered once a month or less) include monkeyflower, iris, California fuchsia, and coffeeberry.  Natives that receive no summer water (once established) include buckwheat, coyote bush, California lilac, cream bush, and coyote mint. Other garden attractions:

• Weeds are pulled by hand; this is easy, due to the 3 to 6 inch layer of wood chips, which were delivered free by an arborist.
• A variety of wildflowers, including tidy tips, meadow foam, baby blue eyes, five spot and cream cups, brighten the garden in spring.
• Mary, a long-time beekeeper, hopes to have her honeybee observation hive available for viewing.  (The bees can’t get out of this hive, but you can see them in at work.)  Please ask where the hive is if you are interested.

Gardening for Wildlife: A seep, cascading stream, and pond attract birds and dragonflies and other riparian wildlife.  The sound of falling water and the diversity of native plants provide food and nesting areas more than 30 species of birds, half a dozen kinds of butterflies, and four types of natives bees (leafcutter, mason, sweat, and bumble). Plant list