BJ and Larry Ledgerwood's garden
Walnut Creek
Lot size: 15,000 sq. ft. back garden only on tour, 80% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in the spring of 2007
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase feature: Two years ago the back garden was an inaccessible hill covered with eucalyptus, juniper, and pampas grass. Now the lower part of the garden, terraced with meandering moss rock retaining walls, is planted with a colorful mix of fuschia, buckwheat, and yarrow. At the top of the slope are an orchard, greenhouse and lath house, and vibrant, raised veggie and cut-flower beds. The garden was designed by Michael Thilgen of Four Dimensions Landscape Company; the stone retaining walls were designed and installed by Ricardo Hernandez. BJ did the planting. The happy owners report that they have used the garden more in the last year than in the previous twenty. Gardeners, take inspiration! If this large lot can be cleared and maintained without the use of pesticides, you can do it, too!
Other garden attractions:
- The natives will receive little or no water next summer.
Gardening for Wildlife: BHummingbirds love the fuschia and sages. Woodpeckers can be heard tapping away at the oaks; dragonflies can’t resist the half-barrel water gardens. At least eight kinds of native bees frolic around the California fuschia, buckwheats, monkey-flowers, and other natives.
Garden Talks: Meet the designer, Michael Thilgen from 10:00 –12:00 pm. Talk 11:00-11:30, “Creating a New Native Garden” by Michael Thilgen. 3:00 “Selecting hardy, water-conserving natives for hot, dry gardens” by BJ Ledgerwood.
Native plants sold or available for donation: GardenNatives will have native plants for sale; these will include many of the plants found in the Ledgerwood garden, as well as rare and unusual natives.