Lot size: 250 sq. ft. front and 1,000 sq. ft. back gardens on tour, 90% native

Garden Age: Garden was installed in stages, beginning in 2004

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

Showcase Feature Stephen, a long-time California Native Plant Society member, knew what was possible.  The lawn in the front, and the seas of ivy and blackberry in the back didn’t daunt him.  Well, maybe a little.  But he still sheet-mulched the lawn, and hand-pulled the weeds in the back, and eventually he had designed and installed a beautiful landscape. Even in this small space there are microclimates, and plants were chosen to thrive in these varying conditions.  Temperature variations from one side of the garden to the other called for totally different plantings. In the small, densely planted front garden native rose, lizardtail, penstemon and sages are found in the sunny areas, while ferns and spice bush thrive the shade. The secluded, peaceful back garden is defined by an enormous oak, a newly planted buckeye, elderberry, and a tributary to Sausal Creek replete with dogwood. Other Garden Attractions

• Mounded garden beds in the front garden provide the drainage most natives need.
• A giant buckwheat softens the line of the porch rail.
• Stephen, who wanted the garden to look like a place he might see while hiking, has planted dogwood, coffeeberry and toyon  on the slope that leads to the creek.

Gardening for Wildlife Bushtits, juncos, scrub jays, hummingbirds, and butterflies frequent the garden. Garden Talk 12:00 and 3:00 “Native gardening in Oakland’” by Steve Asztalos Plant list