Sue Hammond’s Garden
Martinez
Gardening experience: 25+ years
Years gardened at this location: 7 years
Size: 8,635 square feet
Showcase feature: Over the last seven years, the gardener and her husband have created a quiet sanctuary from a former sadly neglected space. (Thirteen tires, car parts, remodeling debris, and innumerable weeds were pulled out of the back garden.) Initially the gardener chose only plants that were drought tolerant and attractive to birds and butterflies. Now, however, the gardener seeks out plants native to the local area. Steep slopes were terraced, an herb garden planted, and a fountain installed. Lawn was removed and replaced with a bunchgrass meadow in January of 2005. The loveseat at the top of the slope provides a pleasant view of this charming garden and the adjacent open space.
Other garden attractions:
- Garden map, organized by bed, shows location of all plants.
- As this home is part of a homeowner's association, the front garden has a tidy and well-organized appearance.
- “My hope is that we will make our neighbors aware of a beneficial alternative to the traditional manicured American yard.”
- Great “before” photos.
- Garden borders open space.
- Certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a "Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden."
Gardening for Wildlife: A diversity of native plants, bird feeders, rockpiles and logs, fallen leaf debris, a butterfly puddling area, nesting boxes, birdbaths, and a splashing fountain make this garden a haven for wildlife. Forty-nine species of birds have been seen from this garden. The list includes black-shouldered kites, cedar waxwings, northern flickers, ash-throated fly catchers, black-headed grosbeaks, Cooper’s and red-tailed hawks, ruby-crowned kinglets, hooded and northern orioles, and great-horned owls. In the daytime, lizards scurry through the garden and birds rest beneath the cover of plants, feast on berries, seeds, and insects or sing from the trees. At dusk, a family of skunks parade through their hole under the fence, while hummingbirds enjoy their last sip of nectar before nightfall. At night, raccoons forage for fruit and other delicacies while an owl hunts overhead. Coyotes can occasionally be seen in the adjacent open space.