may07

Sharon and Dan May’s garden

Richmond

Lot size: 12 x 16 sq. ft. pocket garden behind house, 95% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in September of 2009

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!

Showcase Feature: When Dan and Sharon bought their home in the early 1970s they could put their hands on top of the redwood trees that had been planted just behind the house.  Today these stately trees tower over their home, and they defined the plant palette that could be used when the back garden was created.  Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Sharon and Dan turned to neighbor Jocelyn Rohan, a landscape designer, and asked her to create a low-maintainence, drought-tolerant pocket garden around an octagonal deck.  This very small space (did we say the garden was tiny?) is accessed via small stepping stones, which complement dainty shade-loving plants such as coral bells, blue-eyed grass and irises.  Three types of sages, monkeyflowers, sedges, and maples provide varying height.  This lush, attractive garden contains a pleasing array of moss rock boulders. may01 Other Garden Attractions:

  • Multiple seating areas invite one to linger.
  • Walk two houses up the block to see Jocelyn and Peter Rohan’s garden.

may09 Gardening for Wildlife: A family of foxes—three kits were born last year—live under the barn.  Deer freely graze this garden.



Photos

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