El Cerrito Library Commmunity Native Plant Garden
El Cerrito
Years gardened at this location: 4 years
Garden size: 40’ x 20’, (800 square feet)
Showcase feature: This attractive local native plant demonstration garden was created by volunteers from an area that contained only ivy and tree stumps. Small on space but big on variety, the approximately 30 species of plants in this low maintenance, low water-consuming garden provide pollen, nectar, and shelter for a variety of beneficial insects and birds.
Other garden attractions:
- Booklet containing information on native American uses of the plants in this garden, and how to garden with them, has just been printed.
- The garden is planted with East Bay natives.
- Plants in flower are lupine, coyote mint, black sage, chamise, elderberry, bunchgrasses, and bee plant.
- Enjoy the scents of the sages and mints in this fragrant garden.
- The garden receives minimal summer water now, but will receive none next year.
Gardening for Wildlife: Monarch butterflies lay caterpillars on the milkweed; hummingbirds are attracted to the monkeyflower, pitcher sage, goldenrod, and the red, tubular flowers of the California fuschia. Birds frequent the California rose, elderberry, coffeeberry and currants, and bees love the buckwheats.