Lorraine Kalich’s garden ♿️

San Ramon

Lot size: 1,100 sq. ft. front, 1,200 sq. ft. back garden, 80% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2015

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2

Showcase Feature
This tranquil garden, designed by the team at Susan Friedman Landscape Architecture, with supplemental planting and care by Pete Veilleux of East Bay Wilds, blends beautifully with the adjacent oak-studded hills of the Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve. Dry stream beds lined with naturally smooth Noiya cobblestones and small, rounded Lodi pebbles, and studded with yellow moss rock and Calistoga boulders, are focal points in both the front and back gardens. The potpourri of native grasses in the back garden and the proximity to the open space—there is no fence—create an unparalleled feeling of openness. Take a seat and enjoy the amazing view across the valley; you won’t want to leave this delightful oasis.

Other Garden Attraction
• The Kalichs received $1,650 in rebates for removing their lawns from the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
• Weeds are hand-pulled; no pesticides are use in this—or any—Tour garden.

Gardening for Wildlife
A bubbling yellow moss rock boulder fountain enhances the peaceful feeling of this garden. Nestled under a large maple, this living birdbath provides a water source not only to our avian friends but also to visiting coyote. The native plants provide a natural food source for nectar-lovers and seed-eaters alike, while hedges and boulders provide shelter and nesting spaces. Take a seat and watch for butterflies, red-tailed hawks, quail, and hummingbirds.