Showcase Features: The garden features a giant 'Grandmother Oak' (Valley Oak), and a very vibrant eco-system supported by the oak and the native plants beneath it. Trees like native oaks are called "Keystone" plants", which support 90% of the caterpillar species that enable our terrestrial birds to reproduce, as well as all of our specialist native bee species (per Doug Tallamy). If you want to see such a keystone tree in action, this is the place. Underneath the oak, you can find native plants like Red Flowering Currant, Catalina Currant, Hummingbird Sage, Iris, Island Alum Root, which all grow well in the shade of the oak. At the courtyard, the patio is surrounded by two long beds, with "Dr. Hurd" manzanita, Wooly Blue Curls, Salvia "Pozo Blue", and Monkey Flower, inviting the residents and neighbors to relax and experience the native bees, butterflies and birds that visit the garden.

Other Garden Attractions: A bird bath close to the front door, and a coffeeberry beside it. Both attract birds, making the sitting area next to them a perfect place to relax, watch and enjoy the birds

Gardening for Wildlife: The garden attracts native bees, butterflies and birds that visit the garden all the time. The giant 'Grandmother Oak' (Valley Oak) nurtures a family of squirrels who live in a hollow limb. Chickadees, juncos, bush tits, finches, towhees, pine siskins, woodpeckers, blue jays, crows, coopers hawks, and more all visit the tree to eat the caterpillars and other insects that live there, and feed them to their young. Hummingbirds frequent the epilobium, salvia spathacea, heuchera, and other nectar plants. Lizards scurry among the stone, wood and leaf debris, while an occasional salamander will come up from the creek behind the property. Racoons scamper in the tree at night while deer might come down from the hills for a drink of water or to eat some acorns.

☺ Garden Talk: 10 am - 1 pm - Jim Spinello will bring butterfly chrysalises and share information about butterfly life cycles and host plants
11:30 am - Garden Talk: Dog Friendly Gardening - by host Brian Dirking (in the back yard)
2:30 pm - Garden Talk: Bring Your Garden to Life with California Native Plants - by host Jennifer Dirking (in front yard)

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 4

Garden Size: 600 sq. ft

Designer: Owners
Installer: Owners

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format (from year 2024).