Janette Bachman and Mary Pellerin's garden

Showcase Feature

Once wall-to-wall lawn, this gently sloping corner lot garden now boasts wide, curving garden beds planted with a pleasing array of colorful natives.  The blank slate allowed Liz Simpson, who designed the garden (it was installed by Liz and the homeowners) to use her artistic training in what she refers to as “a creative collaboration with the plants.”  The lawn was reduced in size, and a native meadow was planted this spring.  In the border garden beds the blues and purples of sages, and baby blue eyes are interspersed with the warmer reds yellows and oranges of fuchsia and monkeyflowers to create a riot of color that lasts most of the year. In order to bring in the “scent of California” coyote mint and sages were incorporated into this garden, which is much admired by the neighbors.

 

Other Garden Attractions

 

Gardening for Wildlife

The garden borders are planted with a diversity of bright flowers, which attract bees and butterflies.  Salamanders and Pacific chorus frogs reside happily here.  Hummingbirds are attracted to the fuchsia and monkeyflowers.  To leave seeds for the birds, minimal deadheading is done.  The gum plant attracts a variety of beneficial insects. The pond is a water source for wildlife.