Lot size: 970 sq. ft. front garden, 60% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2010
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Inspired by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, driven by a desire to reduce water use and create habitat for wildlife, and helped by a $500 grant from the Contra Costa Water District’s “Lose the Lawn and Grow a Garden” program, Laura sheet-mulched the lawn. Laura had consultations from a native plant designer to get help with the basic garden layout and planting plan; Laura did the rest. Gently undulating berms provide the drainage that most natives need. Wide garden beds are bordered by rocks collected on family vacations. In spring the waxy pink flowers of the manzanitas are followed by blossoms of creamy yarrow and naked buckwheats, which give way to the red, tubular flowers of the fuchsia and vibrant orange of monkeyflowers.
Other Garden Attractions
- Weeds are pulled by hand.
- A concrete path was broken up and used to make the small retaining wall at the front of the garden.
Gardening for Wildlife
Now that the ecological desert has been replaced by plants that provide pollen and nectar, hummingbirds, a variety of other birds, native bees, and butterflies visit the garden. Monarch butterflies flutter to the milkweed that was planted just for them. Aphids on the milkweed attract ladybugs and birds. Lizards sun themselves on the rocks. The bird bath is heavily used in the hot Concord summers.
Garden Talks 12:00 and 3:00 “How to sheet-mulch your lawn away!” by Laura Spain
