Rick Goodwin and Frank Diaz’ Garden
Richmond
Gardening experience: Rick began incorporating natives into the garden seven years ago.
Lot size: 200 sq. ft. front garden, 60 sq. ft. parking strip, 70% native
Showcase feature: Rick, who designed and installed this garden, removed the lawn and replaced it with Point Molate fescue, which he planted from seed. He now mows and waters once a year; if this sounds appealing to you, check this garden out! In addition to the attractive green "lawn," this small garden is a riot of color in the spring. Plants placed in the borders and pots include the fried egg plant (which attracts beneficial hoverflies), sneeze weed from Albany Hill, bright pink clarkias, lavender seaside daisy, creamy pearly everlasting, and blue-eyed grass.
Other garden attractions:
- Potted native bulbs on display include Itherial’s spear, brodeia, Mariposa and Humboldt lilies, and hairy cat’s ear.
- Clumps of eyelash grass dot the parking strip, which also contains many of the cacti Rick brought from his apartment when he moved here.
- A wash bucket on the driveway contains coastal dune plants from Monterey.
- The quirky fence was rebuilt following the original design.
- Using every bit of space, a native plant nursery is tucked between Rick’s house and the neighbors.
Gardening for Wildlife: Allowing plants to go to seed, mulching with clipped plant material, and the placement of a number of rocks that provide hiding places for tiny creatures has brought a plethora of wildlife to this small garden. Pacific chorus frogs and newts call this urban oasis home. A variety of birds, including black phoebes, bushtits, chickadees, American and lesser gold finches, and hooded orioles stop by for berries and seeds. Butterflies, caterpillars, and bees are welcome visitors.