Lot size: 1,500 sq. ft. front garden, 97% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in the spring of 2010

Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!

Showcase Feature Neighbors report that Mary and Bob’s lawn was the most beautiful on the block; but all of that mowing, watering, and fertilizing, had gotten old.  After hearing Pete Veilleux of East Bay Wilds give a talk on gardening with natives, Mary and Bob were convinced. Pete’s crew turned the lawn upside-down (really!) and used it to create the undulating berms that provide the drainage that most natives need. In spring the nearly one hundred species of natives in this exuberant garden are a cheerful mixture of purple and lavender flax, coyote mint, and iris; pink and red clarkia and hummingbird sage; yellow tidy tips and lupine; orange monkeyflowers, and more. Mary and Bob love the variety of plants, the color, the long bloom season, and the natural look of their new garden.  They are delighted that the garden is easy to maintain; now, instead of spending weekends mowing, they can sit on the tumbled stone patio and enjoy the garden. Other Garden Attractions

• Pete made the driftwood bench, birdbath, and the raised veggie beds, which are tucked into a sunny corner.
• The native side garden, and the shady back porch, with its collection of potted plants, will also be open for viewing.
• The garden is now watered once a week.  Watering will be reduced as the garden matures.

Gardening for Wildlife Dutchman’s pipevine waits hopefully for a visit from the pipevine swallowtail butterfly.  Other butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and bees visit the garden. Garden Talks – Pete Veilleux from East Bay Wilds will be at this garden from 10:00 – 1:00 to answer questions, and help you select plants. Native Plants for Sale East Bay Wilds will be selling natives; a wide variety of manzanitas will be on hand. Plant List