Showcase Features: This garden is an eye-catching transformation from crabgrass and a huge palm tree to California natives in the front and a combination of natives, edibles, and a tiny lawn in the back. As you walk up to the house, a hand-built wooden fence catches they eye. In front are deer grass and some perennials, and behind a "river" of native wild strawberry ground cover, iris, buckwheats, and the attractive Canyon Prince giant rye grass.

Other Garden Attractions: In the back, several seating areas invite the visitor to rest. The owners have eating most meals outside since the garden was put in and have enjoyed the view of a small lawn surrounded by carefully trimmed California natives including Silver Carpet aster, coral bells, and California fuchsia. A decomposed granite path leads past several wooden half-barrels with herbs to the raised beds with edibles. Further in the background, bush anemone and manzanita add some structure to the garden.

Gardening for Wildlife: The garden's plantings encourage birds and provide wildlife habitat - and the blooming California fuchsia and other natives are surely more attractive to birds and hummers than the large lawn used to be.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 3

Garden Size: 1500 sq ft

Designer: Homeowner
Installer: Homeowner

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format (from year 2016).