Lot size: 300 sq. ft. front garden, 50% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages beginning about 20 years ago
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: New this year!
Showcase Feature
When Oliver bought this house two years ago, the mature garden had been in place for many years; in it, native and non-native ornamentals mingle happily. A large redbud provides shade for the coral bells beneath it, and drifts of rosy buckwheats line the walkway leading up to the house. Super-hardy natives, such as buckwheat, fuchsia and chaparral mallow, flourish in the parking strip. Manzanita, sage, and a perennial lupine provide structure and stability throughout the year.
Other Garden Attractions
• This garden has a long bloom time; red fuchsia, pinkich chaparral mallow, cream-colored buckwheats, and lavender seaside daisy bloom well into the fall.
• No pesticides are used in this—or any!—Tour garden.
• Stroll 2 minutes to the east to see Paul Glodis and Mary Jo Sander’s garden.
Gardening for Wildlife
Bees, butterflies, and birds are attracted to this garden by the diversity of plant heights, the variety of plants, and the bounty of blossoms. Hummingbirds adore the bright red, long, tubular blossoms of the native fuchsia and the aptly-named hummingbird sage. Butterflies appreciate the large landing pads (aka) blossoms of the native buckwheat, and bees happily buzz the sage.
Keystone species (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants— in this garden include manzanita, sages, lupine, and buckwheat.
At least partially wheelchair accessible? Yes
