Showcase Features: This small gem features 37 plants grown by the occupants from seeds or cuttings, amongst other nursery bought plants. The lawn was covered with newspapers and free wood mulch, and later planted into. This garden shows how a native garden can be done on a budget.

Other Garden Attractions: An existing large juniper, two roses, and a camellia are all that remain of the previous landscaping. The house shades the garden all winter, but in the summer much of the garden is flooded with sun. Shade-loving perennials grow near the tree, with a native honeysuckle using the juniper as a trellis. Many native perennials and annuals grow along side a small dry creek bed, including California phacelia, California goldenrod, coyote mint, monkeyflower, California fuchsia, blue flax and penstemon. The side yard has a row of currants and a small rainwater swale. The parking strip features a riot of self-sowing wildflowers, poppies, lupine, chia and blazing star, mixed with naked stem buckwheat and native grasses. Eventually the street will be shaded by a black oak, which has been started from an acorn.

Gardening for Wildlife: With currants, wildflower and grass seeds for food, many birds include doves, house finches, mockingbirds, towhees, cedar waxwings, robins, and white crowned sparrows visit the property. Doves love blazing star seeds. Many insects, including skippers, visit the California phacelia and the naked stem buckwheat.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 2

Garden Size: 1050 sq. ft

Designer: Susan Sundberg
Installer: Susan Sundberg and sister (the homeowner)

Click here to download the plant list in PDF format.