Lot size: 250 sq. ft. front garden, 40 sq. ft. parking strip, and 250 sq. ft. back garden, 85% native
Garden Age: The front garden was installed in 2014, and the back garden was installed in 2016
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour:
Showcase Feature
Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and intent upon conserving water, Robin and Neil sheet mulched their small front lawn and removed the agapanthus-filled border beds. Liz Simpson designed their charming replacement. The straight concrete walkway that bisected the front garden was replaced by a wide, inviting entry path of Hamilton gray flagstone; planting mounds were created to provide visual interest. A variety of diminutive plants, such as coral bells, Douglas iris, blue-eyed grass, and native succulents, delicately placed between decorative rocks, were selected to match the front garden’s petite confines. The back garden, designed by Jude Hawley of Wild Sage Gardens, contains a beautiful, angled deck with a raised herb bed. This attractive deck overlooks the inviting, small rear garden, with its gracefully curving border beds and interesting vertical garden art piece.
Other Garden Attractions
• The invasive Mexican feather grass, which was included in the garden’s original planting, was later removed and replaced with native bunchgrasses.
• The mosaic stepping stones, tabletop, address panel, and inlaid stone path decoration were made by Robin.
Gardening for Wildlife
Hummingbirds are attracted by the three types of manzanita, and native bees by the California lilac, penstemon, and fuchsia.
Keystone species (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants— in this garden include California lilac, manzanita, lupine, wild strawberry, native sunflower, and penstemon.
Art in the Garden / Garden Talks
11:00 Have you considered incorporating mosaics into your garden? Outdoor mosaics can be a playful and colorful addition to your outdoor spaces. Mosaics can also be functional; for instance, you can add mosaics to stepping stones, address signs, or birdbaths. Or you can mosaic existing surfaces like flower pots, chairs, or table tops to give them a new life. Join me in checking out the mosaics in this garden, and learn how they were made.” by Robin Heyden
Video
“Redesigning a small garden with California native plants” by Robin Heyden
