Showcase Features: The homeowner's daughter designed this garden to remind her mother of the chaparral-covered hills of California that she wandered in when she was young. The goal was a garden that would be inexpensive to install as well as low water use and low maintenance. Existing hardscape was reused and blended with new elements. For fragrance many native salvias were planted, along with pitcher sage and California sagebrush. The centerpiece of the garden is a large bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida) sited near a small patio. Many other shrubs, including numerous ceanothus and manzanitas, coffee berry, Western redbud mixed with perennials give the small garden the feel of the wild lands.

Other Garden Attractions: An aesthetic screen hides a large air conditioner. The entire yard is very heavy clay, the alluvial deposit of the Guadalupe flood zone. Clay-tolerant species planted on mounds (which are hidden by the water-conserving mulch) and the 2% slope allow the garden to succeed on this site.

Gardening for Wildlife: Wildlife is attracted to this yard by the large variety of native plants as well as birdbaths. Hummingbirds, finches, lizards, bees, native bees, butterflies and dragonflies are all seen here.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 2

Garden Size: 1200 sq ft

Designer: Leslie Peluso
Installer: Leslie Peluso

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