Mary Ford and Rob Lewis' garden
Berkeley
Garden Lot size: 1/3 acre
Years gardened at this location (Gardening Experience): 19 years
Showcase feature: Seventeen oaks and three large groups of boulders provide the framework for this lovely hillside garden, which was designed and installed by Rosemary Zappulla of Wildrose Gardens, and the owners. A former tangle of blackberry, broom, ivy and juniper, the garden was redesigned eight years ago to attract birds, conserve water, and take a minimum of time to maintain. A long flight of stairs leads up to an expansive deck, which was designed to accommodate several huge oak trees, which grow through it.
Other garden attractions:
- A plethora of Douglas iris bloom in the spring. Look for the oaks and toyon growing from the cracks in the boulders.
- The spectacular view of Mount Tamalpais from the upper deck.
- Seven-foot-long lying Buddha rests among plants from the oak woodland plant community. All of the plants in this area of the garden come from the local gene pool: Kensington, Pt. Molate, Oakland, and Berkeley.
- Splendid view of Mount Tamalpais from the upper deck.
- New this year is a traditional style tea house, nestled in the front garden next to a set of large boulders.
Gardening for Wildlife: Birds seen in the garden include chickadees, titmice, bushtits, juncos, brown towhees, Allens hummingbirds, downy woodpeckers, stellar and scrub jays, mourning doves, nuthatches, and Townsend or other western warblers. After rains, flocks of cedar waxwings stop by to visit. Deer, raccoon, skunk, and salamanders also call this garden home.
Garden Talks: * 12:00 “Sudden Oak Death: What it is, and how to prevent it” by Janice Alexander, from the California Oak Mortality Task Force.
* 1:00 – 3:00 The designer, Rosemary Zappulla, will be available to answer questions.