Lot size: 1,250 sq. ft. back garden, 75% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2021
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase Feature
The garden was patches of scruffy grass separated by odd pavers with a sandbox on one side, that was overlooked by a tiny deck. What Dawn had in mind was a beautiful, peaceful, low maintenance, water-conserving, California native plant garden that had space for entertaining—and that is Cris Cruz and Peter Rohan of Landspaces, designed and installed.
An expansive deck overlooks this tranquil space, which is accessed via large, rectangular stepping stones surrounded by a sea of pebbles bordered by lush garden beds. A Dr. Hurd manzanita, Ray Hartman California lilac, and a redbud, now small, will anchor the space when mature. Spicebush and white sage soften the lines of the studio wall.
Elements of feng shui—the practice of arranging the pieces in living spaces in order to create balance with the natural world—were incorporated into the garden design. The central resting space is surrounded by a simple, repeating plant palette of cheerful orange monkeyflowers, pink rosy buckwheat, and purple penstemon. The meditation/reading/seating platform, tucked into a shady corner, invites one to rest. Take a seat and enjoy this inviting and serene garden; you’ll want to linger!
Other Garden Attractions
• Even in this small space there are microclimates, and plants were chosen to thrive in these varying conditions. Currants, island alum root, monkeyflower, and native strawberry flourish in the deep shade of an existing hedge. Extreme heat reflected from the rebuilt garage called for a suite of hardy, sun-loving plants such as buckwheat, strawberry, blue-eyed grass, and rushes.
• Garden designer Criz Cruz will be on hand all day to answer questions.
Gardening for Wildlife
Native bees adore the buckwheat. Additional frequent visitors include butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds.
Gardening for Wildlife
Native bees adore the buckwheat. Additional frequent visitors include butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds.
Keystone species (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants— in this garden include California lilac, manzanita, buckwheat, strawberry, and redbud.
Green Home Features
When the furnace needed replacing Dawn had a heat pump installed by A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air Conditioning. She reports her heating bills are “super low”, she loves the “free” air conditioning that came along with the heat pump, and the system is very quiet. Come take a look at the compressor, check out her PG&E bill, and get your heat pump questions answered.
