Lot size: 2,550 sq. ft. front, 5,175 back and 375 sq. ft side garden, 80% native
Garden Age: Garden was installed in the fall of 2013
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Trina and Jeff wanted to use less water, have a low-maintenance and attractive garden, and they expressed an interest in bunchgrasses. The Team at Four Dimensions Landscape designed and installed the garden the Horner’s wanted, and the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s Lawn and Irrigation Conversion Rebate program helped foot the bill to remove more than 3,500 square feet of lawn and install a water-conserving drip irrigation system. An inviting, meandering decomposed granite path leads one around the meadow, and through this colorful and serene haven.
Other Garden Attractions
• The flat site presented challenges for stormwater drainage. The solution was to create a “rain garden”, which would retain water onsite to gradually soak into the soil, keeping their garden green longer, recharging groundwater reserves, and lessening the erosion on the local creek. Check out the rush-planted swales in the back garden, which collect water from the downspouts.
• Decomposed granite paths and geometric slabs of flagstone wend through the garden.
• Monkeyflower, currants, ferns, coffeeberry, and snowberry thrive in the shady back garden.
• Drop down into one of the seating areas and enjoy the view of this peaceful garden.
• From 10:00-2:00 Laurie Nielsen, landscape architect with Four Dimensions Landscape Company, will be at the garden to answer your questions about California native plants.
Gardening for Wildlife
Owls, swallows, and hummingbirds flit through the garden. Other birds visit the berry-bearing pink-flowering and yellow currants, toyon, snowberry, and manzanitas. Bees are drawn to the sages, manzanitas, and California lilac.
Garden Talks
1:30 “Choosing successful plants for your California native garden: Learn about beautiful, colorful and dependable selections that please the eye and enhance habitat” by Laurie Nielsen
