Idell Weydemeyer’s Garden
El Sobrante
Gardening experience: 27 years
Years gardened at this location: 27 years
Size: 0.75 acre
Showcase feature: Created and planted by Idell to provide food for people, and food, shelter and nesting areas for insects and wildlife, this garden has succeeded admirably on all counts. Near the house is an astonishing variety of fruits and other edibles. A large selection of native plants become more numerous near the oak woodland at the bottom of the property. This gardener has had to overcome a steep slope, a lot of wind, and a plague of gophers.
Other garden attractions:
- Idell creates experimental 'lizard homes' of various sizes and shapes to test which makes the best habitat.
- Check out the fabulous reference lists of mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, and mushrooms in this garden; links are listed below.
- New coastal and desert sections feature natives that grow successfully in several plant communities.
Gardening for Wildlife: A solar fountain attracts birds, as do brush piles, bird houses, fruit, nuts, berries and insects, which provide shelter and food for more than 35 species of birds. A succession of flowering plants attracts hummingbirds, bees, and 25 species of butterflies. The beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly is a common sight, both fluttering through the garden and caterpillaring about in a large patch of Dutchman's pipevine. Seasonal frog ponds are home to Pacific chorus frogs. Nine species of amphibians and reptiles have been seen in the garden.
Native Plants for Sale:Native plants available in exchange for tour donations
Garden Talks: 11:00 and 2:00 "How to attract birds, butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians to your garden;"
and 4:15 “How to grow organic fruit and flowers for birds, butterflies, and people;” both by Idell Weydemeyer.