Ann and Paul Kasameyer's Garden
Livermore
Gardening experience: The native garden is two years old.
Garden size: 2,040 square-foot front gardon only on Tour
Showcase feature: Inspired by the first Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Ann and Paul asked Alrie Middlebrook of Middlebrook Gardens to design and install and allergy-free California native plant garden. Ann and Paul's favorite part of the garden is a dry meandering stream bed containing mixed cobble and scattered rushes. Undulating raised berms provide drainage for low-growing manzanita and California lilac groundcovers. Native grape softens the fenceline.
Other garden attractions:
- Red fescuu, used as a lawn alternative, is an emerald-green oval.
- Thick mulch and a drip system conserve water. The garden will need no summer water next year.
- Recurrent invasive non-native periwinkle was finally stymied by much hand-pulling and weed cloth.
- Wildflowers brighten the garden in spring.
- Accent boulders provide visual interest.
Gardening for Wildlife: Logs and boulders provide shelter for wildlife.
Garden Talks: The designer, Alrie Middlebrook, will be available from 12:30 – 2:30 to discuss how she worked with Ann and Paul to design the garden, review the problems they encountered, and describe the merits of the plants that were installed. Bring photos of your own gardens to obtain design advice and plant recommendations!
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