Tim and Chris Boczanowski's garden
Livermore
Garden Lot size: 1,400 sq. ft. back garden only on tour, 90% native
Years gardened at this location (Gardening Experience): Garden was installed in October, 2006.
Years on the "Bringing Back the Natives" Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Tim and Chris asked Kat Weiss, of Kat Weiss Landscape Design, to work some magic in their sunny, hot, dry back garden—and did she! A Three Rivers flagstone path meanders gracefully between raised garden beds; large moss rock boulders and a variety of glazed pots provide visual interest—and the plants! Vibrant blue California lilac, orange monkeyflower, and magenta penstamen provide color in the spring; the pink rosy buckwheat blooms throughout the summer. This fabulous design shows what can be done with a small space.
Other garden attractions:
- Coast silk tassel, toyon, and oaks will provide screens when mature.
- Weeds are hand-pulled, or stopped in their tracks with boiling water.
- Garden will be watered once a week for the first year or two, then it will be water only occasionally.
- Curved garden bench is made from urbanite (free, used cement) and topped with flagstone.
Gardening for Wildlife: Large boulders are havens for lizards. The sound of water falling into the urn fountain attracts birds, as does the bird bath and the feeders. Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright tubular flowers of the native fuchsia and monkeyflower. Owls and hawks hang out above the garden.
Native plant-related items sold/given away: The California Natives Plant Society will sell native plant reference books and memberships. Join CNPS today and be entered in a drawing to receive a free landscape consultation!