Rick Franklin and Janice Woo's garden
El Cerrito
Garden Lot size: 975 sq. ft. front, 500 sq. ft. back and side garden area, 90% native
Years gardened at this location (Gardening Experience): Since moving to California in 1994 Rick has been planting native species wherever he's lived; this is his first full-scale project on non-rental property.
Years on the "Bringing Back the Natives" Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: Considerations of light and microclimates guided the plant choices in Rick and Janice’s garden. In spring and summer the small, sunny front garden is a sea of bright flowers, including the annuals Clarkia and Phacelia (which the bees adore) and perennials such as buckwheat, wallflower, and three kinds of sage. There are now over 100 species of natives in this garden, and Rick and Janice observe many passersby enjoying the floral extravaganza found in their front meadow. The back woodland garden, in the shade of a neighbor’s redwood, includes columbines, redwood sorrel, blue and red huckleberry, wild ginger, and a madrone, and several types of ferns (among other natives).
Other garden attractions:
- Native honeysuckle and Clematis wrap around the front garden fence, which Rick designed and built.
- Ray Hartman Ceanothus makes a lacy fence screen along the driveway.
Gardening for Wildlife: Rick has noticed that the natives have brought in more wildlife—in particular, the native bees have “gone crazy” since the lawn was removed and the garden planted with natives. Skippers, monarchs, and swallow tail butterflies are frequently seen nectaring in the front garden. Hummingbirds regularly visit the hummingbird sage and monkeyflowers. Chickadees, titmice and finches are also seen in the garden. The squirrel-proof bird feeder and has attracted falcons. Scrub jays and fox squirrels enjoy the peanuts provided for them.