Joan Underwood’s garden
Richmond
Lot size: 20 x 25 sq.ft. front garden and 60 x 30 sq. ft. back garden on tour 50% native
Garden Age: Native garden was planted in stages, beginning in fall, 2007
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: When Joan began gardening on the lot adjacent to her home the weeds were four feet high. Inspired by attending the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Joan got to work. No herbicides were used in clearing this lot; Joan sheet-mulched the weeds—covering them with overlapping pieces of cardboard and four inches of wood chips—then created raised garden beds. Now more than 100 species of natives, selected and installed by Joan, spill exuberantly about this busy cottage garden. This is a garden in transition; non-natives are being replaced by natives as Joan re-works her existing garden. The sections of Joan’s garden that are on the tour are the rear portion of the back garden, and about half of the shady front garden.
Other garden attractions:
- The artistic front fence was created from recycled wood, found on Craigslist, hauled back from Concord, and shaped by Joan with a jigsaw.
Gardening for Wildlife: Joan refers to her garden as “bumblebee paradise and hummingbird heaven.” These winged visitors are wild about the sages, monkeyflowers, Channel Island snapdragons, and fuchsias. The birdbath and feeders provide hospitality for towees, chickadees, sparrows, and the ever-present group of squirrels. The garden also attracts other native bees and skippers, and is home to slender salamanders.
Garden Talks: 12:00 and 3:00 “Controlling weeds without using pesticides: Sheet mulch is your friend when you have a sea of weeds!” by Joan Underwood