Showcase Features: This front yard garden shows an excellent example of using 'Anchor Bay' wild lilac and dwarf coyote brush as a lovely, drought tolerant ground cover instead of a thirsty lawn.

Other Garden Attractions: Other, nicely displayed native specimens include white chaparral currant, Dr. Hurd manzanita, Douglas iris, wild California grape and Catalina perfume. A Howard McMinn manzanita hedge borders the property.

Gardening for Wildlife: Natural plants, bird feeders and a bird path provides food, water and shelter for the birds. The owner provides some nesting boxes, and the coast live oak in the back yard also supports nesting. Owner's statement: I love feeding the wild birds and wanted a garden that would attract them to the yard. The new garden has attracted several new species of birds to the yard. Last spring, we had three different birds raise their fledglings in the yard, including a hummingbird just in view of the window.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 11

Garden Size: Small front yard

Designer: Fran Adams, A Sense of Place, and Sarah Riley, SKR Design
Installer: Ian Harris

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format (from year 2011).