Katie Chenok's garden
Orinda
Garden Lot size: .65 acre lot; back garden only on tour, 50% native
Years gardened at this location (Gardening Experience): Garden was installed in September, 2006
Years on the "Bringing Back the Natives" Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: Katie’s goals were to create access to this extensive, steep slope; provide a play area for her family; create a natural-looking, water conserving garden; control erosion; and remove the poison oak. Katie’s interest in native plants lead her to contact Kim Larson of Dragonfly Designs. After touring last year’s Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour together they were both inspired to add more natives to Katie’s garden. Paths now wind down to the bottom of this large back garden; extensive moss rock retaining walls were installed; a dry creek bed collects and channels rainwater; seating areas have been created; a vegetable garden was added; and a woodchip play area (instead of lawn) was placed in the flat area at the lower part of the lot. This garden shows how one can meld many interests—natives and Mediterranean plants, edibles, wildlife habitat, play areas, and a cutting garden.
Other garden attractions:
- Solar lights line the paths.
- The ceramic faces and the small pots were made by Katie, who, when not gardening, creates ceramics.
- Don’t miss the “before” and “during construction” photos!
Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds, blue jays and robins enjoy this recently-planted garden.