Showcase Features: This lawn conversion from February 2014 shows how you can save money, save water, and still have a beautiful garden that the neighbors surely enjoy. The owner took advantage of the Santa Clara Valley Water District rebate program and, after sheet mulching the lawn, added an attractive mix of mostly California native plants and a few non-natives. Some mature existing non-native plants, for example Camelias, combine well with the new native plants, avoiding a just-planted feeling. Stepping stones and a whimsical self-made bird-bath add to the individualistic but attractive feeling.

Other Garden Attractions: Ceanothus, coffeeberry, and large groundcover salvias are welcome green areas, while a newly planted oak, a tall manzanita, and coyote brush add the vertical element. Poppies and California fuchsia add color.

Gardening for Wildlife: Hummingbirds, gold finches, junchos, phoebes, and butterflies visit the new plantings - a better place for birds and pollinators than the lawn ever was!

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 2

Garden Size: 1500

Designer: AFLA Landscape Architecture - Ashini Fernando
Installer: Benz's Landscaping and Tree Care

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format (from year 2015).