Kim and Jeff Jerge's garden
Pinole
Garden Lot size: 28,000 square feet
Years gardened at this location (Gardening Experience): The native plant garden has been installed in stages, beginning in 2002.
Showcase feature: A high diversity of local native plants, mixed with natives from throughout California, can be found in this large, sunny garden. Jeff, interested in what the landscape was like prior to the arrival of Europeans, wanted a native garden that would provide habitat for wildlife. The garden was designed by Glen Schneider and installed by Glen and Jeff.
Other garden attractions:
- The front and back gardens consisted of lawn, ivy, and juniper prior to the conversion.
- Don't miss the fossils embedded in the stone stairs in the back garden.
- Only new plants receive supplemental water in the spring and summer; the rest of the garden receives no water.
- New native wildflower meadow should be gorgeous. Ask how you can transform your own lawn (or weed patch) into a natural meadow.
Gardening for Wildlife: The local native plants provide a haven for wildlife, as do the pond, birdbath, and rocks that provide shelter for the smaller creatures. Pacific chorus frogs, fence and alligator lizards, salamanders, ring-neck, gopher and king snakes, bats, kestrals, and foxes are occasionally seen or around in the garden. More commonly seen are a plethora of bees and butterflies, finches, and hummingbirds.
Garden Talks: 12:00 “Native Gardening—fun for the whole family” by Jeff Jerge.
Native plants sold: Clarkia, Phacelia, toyons and other native plants will be available in exchange for tour donations.