Lot size: 12’ x 60’ front, 10’ x 80’ side, and 30’ x 60’ sq. ft. back gardens on tour, 75% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2001

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2

Showcase Feature

This inviting local native plant garden was designed by Michael, and installed by Michael and his mom and dad, Mary and Jason.  Michael, who studied horticulture at Diablo Valley College under the legendary Stewart Winchester, collected and grew native seeds, cuttings, and rhizomes found while hiking near their house or on nearby Mt. Diablo. At the back of this deep lot flows Old Jonas Creek, formerly encased in ivy. Now this peaceful oak-bay woodland is accessed by mulched paths, and features a lush under-story of native shade loving plants, including honeysuckle, mugwort, snowberry, and ferns. Other Garden Attractions

• In the sunny front garden, wide, gracefully curving garden beds  containing five kinds of native grasses, and many other kinds of natives, wrap around a reduced lawn.

• Students from the East Bay Waldorf School will sell baked goods as a field trip fundraiser.

• Don’t miss the “before” photos!

Gardening for Wildlife

A plethora of berries, snowberries, coffeeberries, thimbleberries, currants, toyon, and native blackberry and strawberry attract a variety of birds, including warblers, woodpeckers, and kinglets.  Recently, quail nested in the front garden.  A half-dozen species of native bees (bumble, carpenter, mason, miner, and leaf cutter) have been seen in the garden. Toads, chorus frogs, and salamanders call the garden home.  Coopers hawks patrol the area by day, bats hunt for mosquitoes in the evening.  This garden is freely grazed by deer. Native Plants Sold: Michael, propagator extraordinaire, will sell East Bay natives.  Students from the East Bay Waldorf School will sell natives they have propagated, including ferns, ginger, yarrow, blue-eyed grass, and strawberry. Plant list