Showcase Features: The lawn and topiaried exotics in this spacious front yard were replaced in 2014 with an eye-catching assortment of CA native shrubs, sedges, and annuals. Meadow and coastal sage scrub are the primary communities represented in this garden, though areas typifying riparian, with fragrant monkey-flowered savory and juncus, and coast redwood are here as well. Redbud, verbena lilacina, yarrow, buckwheats, numerous salvias, and wildflowers grow in the sunny part of the front yard, along with several low varieties of ceanothus, California fuchsia, monardella, and lessingia. Flowering currants, alumroot, manzanita, iris, yerba buena, wood strawberries, wild ginger, seaside daisy and ferns find home in the part shade under canopies of mature trees that were retained from the previously existing landscape. A small succulent rock-garden area contains lewisia and several varieties of dudleya.

Other Garden Attractions: Rainwater from the gutter is directed into a swale in front of the porch to allow the water to percolate back into the soil, minimize run-off, and support less drought-tolerant plants. A miniature 'stone-henge' adds a touch of whimsy.

Gardening for Wildlife: A recirculating fountain and a birdbath provides birds and other wildlife with water, and mature trees provide shelter. Hummingbirds and song birds are frequent visitors, as are a variety of bees and butterflies, with milkweeds to attract monarch butterflies.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 2

Garden Size: 4000 sq. ft

Designer: Alan Hackler, Bay Maples
Installer: Bay Maples

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format.