Lot size: 8,500 square feet, 90% native
Garden Age: This 40 year old was planted in stages, beginning in the early 1970s
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 6
Showcase Feature
In this beautiful, mature front garden, a streambed located between graceful vine maples leads to a diversified, manzanita-dominated chaparral. In the back garden, trails meander through open areas of wildflowers that give way to tall shrubs and small trees such as shore pines, mountain mahogany and madrone, and finally to tall conifers. A twenty-five foot long stream tumbles down through off-set falls, a meander, and a shallow riffle/bird beach area before spilling into a fish and turtle pond. Al, a flyfishing author and teacher, has transformed a typical suburban garden into a woodsy, parklike landscape. He continually changes the look of the garden to create appeal between plantings and help provide “little surprises around every curve” along the various trails.
Other Garden Attractions
- This garden, 35 years in development, contains over 100 species of California natives. Most of the established plants receive no summer water.
- Japanese garden concepts have shaped the design of this yard.
- Mountain mahogany, pines, and toyons create an attractive, see-through canopy.
- Al, a professional fly fishing author and teacher, artfully designed one straight line in the back garden for his fly casting practice without detracting from the gently-curving natural look.
Gardening for Wildlife
Bird baths and feeders, nesting houses, a shallow stream riffle, brush piles, dust bath areas, and abundant plant cover have attracted over ninety species of birds, including thrashers, tanagers, and black-throated gray warblers. Rock outcroppings, wood piles, and sandy areas add habitat for resident sharp-tailed snakes and fence and alligator lizards. Recent plantings have been directed at attracting more butterflies to join the bees and hummingbirds in nectar feeding.
Garden Talk 12:00 and 3:00 “Concepts that guided my landscaping” by Al Kyte
Al and Barbara Kyte’s Native Plant List for 2010
California Native Plants for Moraga Gardens
Concepts That Guided My Landscaping
