Lot size: 650 sq. ft. front garden, 95% native
Garden Age: Front garden was installed in 2005
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 4
The plant palette in this small, sunny front garden, which was designed and installed by Leslie and designer Donald Tarahonich, is a mixture of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees that provide a changing landscape throughout the year. In spring the garden is awash in color, from the abundant white blooms of the California buckeye and bush anenome, to the deep lavender of the California lilac, and the exuberant mosaic of yellow, blue, and orange in the annual wildflower understory. In winter, the garden features the elegant structure of the California buckeye and towering elderberry surrounded by the evergreen California lilac and three kinds of manzanita. This garden is an inspiration for converting a small yard into an interesting, low-maintenance wildlife habitat.
Other garden attractions
- The back garden, a mixture of natives, edibles, and some ornamentals, will also be open for viewing.
- During WWII this home was the site of a flourishing Victory Garden. Leslie is renewing the tradition of growing vegetables at home; note the raised planter beds running up the driveway.
- Don’t miss the “before” photos!
Gardening for Wildlife
The diversity of plant heights, from trees to shrubs to low-growing ground-covers, provides shelter for wildlife. Native plants provide berries, seeds, and nectar for goldfinches, white crowned sparrows, doves, orioles and hummingbirds. The avian action below attracts Cooper’s hawks. Bumblebees, honeybees, and buckeye and painted lady butterflies are frequent visitors. Praying mantis and walking sticks have also been observed in the garden.
