Paul Carman and Anita Pereira’s garden
Richmond
Lot size: 3,000 sq. ft. front garden, front slope, and parking strip on tour, 70% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2007.
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: While Paul and Anita had lived in the neighborhood for years, it was not until meeting native plant gardener Dave Drummond (who lives a couple of doors down), and becoming native fans themselves, that they really became connected to their neighbors. Now they feel a real sense of community with the native plant gardeners who live nearby— they have barbecues, socialize at wine-and-cheeses, share seeds, plants, and advice, and encourage more neighbors to transform their gardens. Many of the plants in Paul and Anita’s garden were given to them by Dave, who has spearheaded the ecological restoration gardening movement that the neighborhood is adopting. “Gardening with natives has improved the quality of our lives, and brought the neighborhood together,” notes Paul.
Other garden attractions:
- Walk to Margot Cunningham/Pierre La Plant’s, and to Dave Drummond’s gardens.
- The steep slope in front had been covered with ivy for decades; Paul is removing the ivy by hand, and Anita is planting the slope with natives.
- Unique, low bamboo fence provides an open feel, while using less redwood.
- Wildflower seeds are collected from the garden. Paul “loves the way the system multiplies itself.”
- Dishwater, and water collected while the shower is warming, are used to hand-water the plants.
Gardening for Wildlife: Paul and Anita see their garden as a way to create wildlife habitat; particularly for bees. Leaf cutter bees take half-moon shaped bites out of the aptly-named bee plant, and bumblebees love the wildflowers. Rock piles and a bird bath attract hummingbirds, wrens, and mourning doves.