Showcase Feature
Long-time Tour-goers Michael and Barbara were ready for the water-thirsty patchy lawn, pine trees, and other non-native ornamentals to go. What they wanted was an attractive, low-water consuming native plant garden that could tolerate being grazed by deer.
Reka Foss, owner of Foss Gardens, designed the new landscape, which includes an inviting, gently curving walkway that leads to the house which is flanked by garden beds containing a potpourri of hardy natives, including manzanita, penstemon, golden currant, and more.
The former lawn is now home to drifts of water-conserving shrubs that can tolerate Walnut Creek’s hot summers, such as the low-growing sage ‘Bee’s Bliss, “Pigeon Point’ coyote brush, and ‘Valley Violet’ California lilac.
Other Garden Attractions
- Water from the roof is directed to a cobble-lined dry creek bed, which retains the rainwater and allows it to soak slowly into the ground, replenishing the aquifer, protecting the local creek from scouring, and keeping the garden green longer.
- This garden is open to grazing by deer.
Gardening for Wildlife
Foxes have been seen frolicking about the garden, snacking adorably on rodents, fruits, and berries. Swallows swoop overhead, catching insects on the wing. Rare tiger salamanders—threatened by habitat destruction and pesticide use—are seen in the garden, noshing on insects. Lizards bask on the boulders.
Keystone species (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants— in this garden include valley oaks, golden currant, fuchsia-flowering gooseberry, California lilac, aster, manzanita, sage, buckwheat, coyote brush, and penstemon.
Green Home Features
Solar panels
Batteries
Cool roof
Whole house fan
Electric vehicle
Smart panel (or similar load-shifting system)
At least partially wheelchair accessible? No