Lot size: 800 sq. ft. front garden, 80% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2009
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Janis, a long-time Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour volunteer (and Alameda County Master Gardener) felt guilty about her water-guzzling lawn—and she didn’t love the junipers and ivy, either. Janis found Kat Weiss of Kat Weiss Landscape Design on the Tour’s website—and the garden was reborn. (So was Janis’ water bill, which dropped by half when the garden was transformed.) Today, a medley of native shrubs tumble against each other in wild abandon. A variety of sages (Bees Bliss, Cleveland, and pitcher) fill the air with their sweet scent on warm days.
Other Garden Attractions
- The garden steps, retaining walls, curved seating bench, and patio were made from the former concrete path and driveway.
- Raised garden beds provide the drainage that most native plants need.
Gardening for Wildlife
Native bees love the coyote mint, California lilac, and the three kinds of buckwheat (rosy, Santa Cruz Island, and Saint Catherine’s lace). Hummingbirds dart through the garden, seeking the hummingbird sage, fuchsia, and penstemon.
Garden Talks
11:00 and 2:00 “How to convert your garden from lawn and ivy to a water-conserving wildlife-attracting native plant garden” by Janis Turner
Music in the Garden
Deb Selig will play guitar & sing “folksy” music between 1:00 and 3:00
