Sobrante Estates Garden
4162-4194 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante
Years gardened at this location: 2-1/2 years
Garden size: 400 square feet on tour
Showcase feature: Condo, townhouse, or apartment dwellers who yearn to see something other than ivy out their windows should check out this project. Beds of ivy that were both watered year-round and sprayed with pesticides have been torn out and replaced with nearly 90 species of native plants, 75% of them local to the area.
Other garden attractions:
- A small woodland garden planted under redwoods, and a sunny meadow have been planted. The project is expected to expand in the future.
- The natives will receive no summer water once established.
- Moss rock walls were created to provide visual interest, and nooks for plants and critters.
Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies flit, flutter, and buzz the native plants, happily nectaring and collecting pollen. (While pointedly ignoring the ivy.) Leaf cutter bees build tunnels in the ground under the natives, and carry circles of leaves across the garden. Bumblebees visit the clarkias, and other native bees visit the bee plant, toyon, and Mariposa lilies. Hoverflies more like UFOs between the flowers. Hummingbirds are attracted to the sticky monkeyflower, penstemon, and sage.