Lot size: 750 sq. ft. front, 500 sq. ft. side, and 1,500 sq. ft. back gardens, 95% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in 2013
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour:
Until 2013, the sloping front garden was a sea of juniper, and the back garden was a “jungle of ivy, bamboo, and assorted trees.” This did not mesh with Joel and Seibi’s desire for a drought-tolerant garden that reflected the beauty and resilience of the California landscape. A consult with Michael Thilgen, whose vision and philosophy was to highlight and honor the venerable oak tree that shaded the landscape, led to the team at Four Dimensions Landscape Company’s design and installation of this beautiful native plant garden.
The sunny front garden is accessed by ascending an attractive Arizona flagstone stairway and circular landing flanked by Sentinel and Dr. Hurd manzanitas. The back garden, featuring stacked moss rock retaining walls that bordering a decomposed granite path, leads to two shaded seating areas that invite you to linger and enjoy this peaceful oasis.
Other Garden Attractions
- The sloping back garden contains plants that flourish in the deep shade of the oak—currants, ferns, monkeyflower, coral bells, snowberry, and the fragrant yerba buena.
Gardening for Wildlife
Native bees are attracted to the rosy buckwheats; hummingbirds are drawn to the tubular purple-blue flowers of the penstemon. Butterflies and dragonflies flit through the garden.
Keystone species in this garden (watch this talk by Doug Tallamy!)
Keystone species—our own, local ecological powerhouse plants— in this garden include coast live oak, chaparral and pink flowering currants, manzanitas, buckwheat, and native strawberry.
Green Home Features
Joel and Seibi had solar panels installed in 2022. They also chose to install a battery, which allows them to use the stored energy from their own panels to power the in the home evenings and overnight – and also during power outages.
Parking
Kenyon can be quite busy; use caution when crossing. On most Kensington streets parking is available on only one side of the street. Parking will be tight. Do not block neighbors’ driveways.
