Lot size: 2,500 sq. ft. back and side gardens, 65% native
Garden Age: Native garden was installed in stages, beginning in 1999
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Joe attended the first Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour in 2005, which catalyzed his efforts to go native. He bought a station wagon full of natives at the second garden tour, and has been transitioning his garden to local natives, in stages, ever since. In the attractive back garden, gracefully curving garden beds and planter boxes border a local native sod meadow, sold by the Delta Bluegrass Company, which was installed last December. Follow the path past the sloped grassland and chaparral plantings, and the woodland area, where felled birch trunks, pock-marked by woodpeckers, were placed to provide habitat for other species of wildlife.
Other Garden Attractions
- Joe built the tumbled Mariposa slate stairs that lead up to the iron slate patio; don’t miss the magnificent view of the Golden Gate Bridge that can be seen from the top of the garden.
- Walk the short block to Mandalay and Marguerite to see the beautiful native garden at Hillcrest Elementary School. In spring this 1,000 sq. ft. garden, designed by Luke Hass, is ablaze with purple sages, asters, and seaside daisies; bright with red Island snapdragons and bee plants; and dotted with cheerful sulphur and creamy naked buckwheats.
Gardening for Wildlife
Phacelia and other bee-attracting plants spring up, unbidden, delighting the bees. Experimental bee nest blocks made by Joe provide nesting areas for native bees. Newts call the garden home.
Garden Talks
A representative from the Delta Bluegrass Company, which provided the native sod, will be at the garden from 10:00 – 12:00; a table with handouts will be set up throughout the day. 12:00 and 2:00 “How to transition from a non-native garden to a native plant garden” by Joe Maffei.
Native Plants For Sale Kristen Hopper of Oaktown Native Plant Nursery will be selling native plants.
