Showcase Features: What started as a reduction of the backyard lawn became a full property transformation to a nearly 100% native plant garden. A large front yard lawn has been replaced by a semiprivate patio and small seating area surrounded by native grasses, a wildflower meadow (annuals and perennials), and mounded planting beds. A meditation labyrinth surrounded by beds of water-wise native plantings has replaced the backyard lawn.

Other Garden Attractions: A large redwood at the front patio provides shade for yerba buena, ferns, and wild ginger. The parking strip and long side driveway display native irises, rushes, currants and manzanita while a stacked stone planter box just outside the back kitchen door supports vegetables and herbs all year. A large, heritage oak shades half of the backyard and protects snowberry, Catalina perfume, and ferns from the hot summer sun. The sunny side of the back yard, including the pool area, provides just the right environment for Penstemon, fragrant sage, deer grass, and purple needle grass.

Other plants throughout the property include redbud, vine maple, barberry, aster, currant, California wax myrtle, Ceanothus, twinberry, dune tansy, California buckwheat, red-twig dogwood, California hemp, Monkeyflower savory, and coyote mint. The design intent has been to use native plants and new hardscape to translate the original formal setting to a California contemporary cottage garden.

Gardening for Wildlife: The wide variety of plant choices, available shelter, and several small birdbaths attract many insects and birds throughout the day and evening.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 3

Garden Size: 15,000 sq ft

Designer: Peigi Duvall, Indig Design
Installer: Rivera Landscaping

Click here to download the plant list in PDF format (from year 2009).