Showcase Feature
Imagine two large redwood trees flanking (and obscuring) the entrance to the house, and a wrap-around lawn. Fast forward to the fall of 2024, when the redwoods and lawn (neither appropriate for this lot) had been removed, the grade had been corrected, and a colorful native plant garden had been planted. Landscape designer Tyrone Perry handled the entire process, including building the beautiful dry-stacked, stone retaining walls and two rain garden features, which perfectly complement the large home on this dry and sunny corner lot.
Tobi, the home’s new owner and a long-time native plant enthusiast, wanted to put the oaks back in Oakland—as well as the other native plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting areas for wildlife—and he was also looking forward to the additional advantages of native plant gardens, such as lower maintenance than traditional gardens, and reduced water use. The two black oaks planted in the parking strips will create a sense of stability when mature; they will also provide nesting areas and food for resident and migrating birds. As the garden matures it will receive less and less supplemental water, and the difference between the north-facing woodland area and the chaparral-inspired corner will become more pronounced.
The garden shines in spring with clusters of blue- and yellow-eyed grass in front of the blue-flowering California lilac, accented with white Douglas irises and puffs of creamy yarrow; and also in summer, when exuberant drifts of pink rosy buckwheat mingle with the spires of yellow goldenrod, lavender blossoms of seaside daisy and coyote mint, orange monkeyflowers, and electric purple-blue penstemons.
Come see how quickly a native garden can become established!
Other Garden Attractions
• Groundcovers include coastal sage wort, creeping sagebrush, a low-growing fuchsia, and Lippia.
• Water from the roof drains into two depressions that retain the rainwater on-site, keeping the garden green longer, replenishing the aquifer, and protecting the local creek from scouring.
• The dense plantings will help to outcompete weeds.
Gardening for Wildlife
Anna’s hummingbirds nest in the Catalina cherry trees. Titmice, chickadees, bush tits and mockingbirds, as well as monarch and anise swallowtail butterflies and native bees fly, flutter, and buzz about the garden.
Keystone species (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants—in this garden include black oak, pink flowering currant, California lilac, manzanita, snowberry, sagebrush, sages, goldenrod, buckwheat, elderberry, and penstemon.
At least partially wheelchair accessible? Yes
Photos
Click to see as a slideshow:
