Lot size: 530 sq. ft. front garden, 98% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2005
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase Feature
Erik, an ecologist, wanted his front garden to be a “patch of land in the urban desert” that would provide food, shelter, and nesting areas for insects, and he and his wife, Lainie, wanted their back garden to be an inviting haven for the family. Come see how their efforts were successful on both counts. The diminutive front garden contains two redbuds, whose spectacular magenta blossoms attract a plethora of native bees, birds, and butterflies in spring. Wildflowers such as clarkia, Chinese houses, fivespot, and poppies brighten the garden between February and June. A large manzanita, with its beautiful, smooth, red bark, has grown up around the Little Free Library. Wander around to the attractive back garden, with its raised bed—created from the former driveway— of vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals, happy flock of chickens (longtime stars of the Tour de Coop), and attractive seating area. Drop down at the shaded table and rest a while; you won’t want to leave.
Other Garden Attractions
• The inviting back garden, with its raised garden beds of edibles and flock of happy chickens, will also be open for viewing.
• Check out the insect collection; many of them have been seen in this small garden.
Gardening for Wildlife
Monarchs and skippers, carpenter, honey, yellow-faced and beautiful iridescent green bees, black phoebes, finches, and hummingbirds frequent the garden. Salamanders have been found in the cool, shady areas of the garden.
Garden Talks
11:00 and 1:00 “How to raise chickens”
11:30 and 1:30 “Garden like life depends on it” all by Erik Grijalva
Native Plants Available
A selection of native plants will be available. These will most likely include purple needlegrass, clarkias, redbuds, nettles, the lovely bee plant, our local native strawberry, and perhaps a few others.
