Merry West’s Garden
Martinez
Gardening experience: 4 years
Years gardened at this location: Garden was installed in July 2004
Size: 6,000 square feet
Showcase feature: This delightful garden, which was designed to attract wildlife of the winged sort, also attracts wildlife of the two-legged variety. Now a peaceful oasis filled with a diversity of native plants, the garden was created from former large front and back lawns and a tangle of non-native trees. While the plants were chosen by Merry, the plant placement, design, installation were performed by landscaper Jim Minder.
Other garden attractions:
- Water bill has been reduced since the garden was planted with natives.
- Stepping stones and bricks from the former landscape were reused.
- Thick mulch helps to control weeds. The gardener considers this garden her legacy.
Gardening for Wildlife: A diversity of native plants (including a variety of native berry-bearing plants), three bird feeders, and a bird bath have created a haven for wildlife. The garden is now visited by goldfinches, pine siskins, titmice, and hummingbirds (which love the penstamen). White-crowned sparrows, which the gardener had never seen in the garden until the native plants were brought in, are a welcome sight. Hummingbirds and “jillions” of butterflies are also frequent visitors to this wildlife-friendly garden. Merry just installed barn owl and bat boxes. A dead birch was left as a snag; logs from the birch provide places for little creatures to live.