Lot size: 0.75 acre, 85% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 1975
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 6
Showcase Feature
Created and planted by Idell to provide food for people, and food, shelter and nesting areas for insects and wildlife, this garden has succeeded admirably on all counts. Near the house is an astonishing variety of fruits and other edibles. A profuse array of native plants grows throughout this large, eclectic garden. Idell has had to overcome a steep slope, very shallow soil, a lot of wind, and a plague of gophers.
Other Garden Attractions
- Clarkias, gilias, and buckwheats reseed gaily as do oaks, toyons, coffee berries, and currants. Succulent dudleyas are massed in several areas.
- Three large self-tending compost piles create soil that enriches the garden.
- Check out the fabulous reference lists of mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and mushrooms in this garden (see below).
Gardening for Wildlife
Trays of water attract more than fifty species of birds, as do brush piles, bird houses, fruit, nuts, berries and insects. A succession of flowering plants attracts hummingbirds, bees, and many species of butterflies. The beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly is a common sight, both fluttering through the garden and caterpillaring about in a large patch of Dutchman’s pipevine. Nine species of amphibians and reptiles have been seen in the garden.
Garden Talks
10:30 “How to attract birds to your garden”, and
4:15 “How to grow organic fruit and flowers for birds, butterflies, and people” by Idell Weydemeyer
Fruit & Nuts in Idell’s garden
Butterflies seen in Idell’s garden
