Lot size: 16’ x 20’ and 4’ x 12’ sq. ft. beds in the front garden, 90% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2012
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Showcase Feature
This small Albany garden, which contained Bermuda grass, rosemary, and a holly tree when Debra bought the house in 2012, was designed by Debra, who has long had a passion for California native plants. Over time the Bermuda grass was hand-weeded (yes—you can do it!), the rest of the non-native plants removed, and a plethora of natives brought in.
This garden has something blooming much of the year. The flower season starts in January, when the manzanitas delight native bees with their urn-shaped, creamy pink blossoms. In spring the seaside daisies produce abundant lavender flowers with yellow centers, which complement the lavender-to-blue sprays of the ‘Winifred Gilman’ sage and the showy burgundy and white flowers of the Canyon gooseberry. Summertime finds the garden brightened with the violet blossoms of the wooly blue curls, the bright red California fuchsia and the orange globemallow. Hummingbirds and butterflies abound.
Other Garden Attractions
• Public restrooms are available at Terrace Park, just two blocks away.
Gardening for Wildlife
In spring the cheerfully glossy, bright yellow buttercups and the blue blossoms of the Cleveland sage attract native bees, while the long, tubular electric blue blossoms on the penstemon bring in hummingbirds.
Keystone species in this garden (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants—sin this garden include California lilac, manzanita, sage, gooseberry, and penstemon.
Garden Talks
11:00 “How to design your own native plant garden” by Debra Shushan
Parking
Parking will be tight. Park near Marin Elementary School, near Sonoma, and enjoy the short walk. Do not block neighbors’ driveways.
