Showcase Features: This large, professionally designed garden has inspiring ideas for everyone. The well-established front yard fully uses a corner lot with wildflower areas, a California native bunch grass meadow, meandering paths, and mature specimens of manzanita, toyon, Fremontodendron, and oak trees. A dry creek bed and a recycled washtub fountain anchor the design while a natural boulder bench allows the owners to sit and enjoy the garden.The backyard design by Julie Orr transformed a dominating, unused swimming pool and traditional lawn into a water-wise garden containing a small pond with natural-rock fountain, eight interior and peripheral native plant beds, and a riparian rain garden that collects storm water from the home's downspouts. Walking paths meander among the beds past the pond through a sitting area under a shade arbor to raised planter beds for vegetables and roses.

Other Garden Attractions: Two large entry manzanitas, trio of canyon oaks, Santa Cruz Island ironwood, and a concrete washtub fountain. The entire yard has about 200 varieties of native plants. The garden continues to evolve. As trees grow, shade increases, so the owners have put in more shade loving plants. The drought brought more garden evolution, with new specimens going in to replace plants weakened by the drought.

Gardening for Wildlife: This is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. The abundant native plants, dense shrubs, a woodpile, and bird and bee houses provide shelter and nesting spots. Seeds, berries, and insects provide food, while the pond and washtub fountain supply fresh water. Songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees are abundant.

❀ Plants Available: On tour day, Gold Rush Native Plant Nursery will conduct a plant sale at this garden. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Going Native Garden Tour. You may pay with cash, check or credit card. Click here for the list of plants available from Gold Rush; the plants on sale will be selected for suitability for planting in our area. You can download that list and use it to pre-order plants (email and phone are at the bottom of the list).

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 16

Garden Size: 11000 sq ft

Designer: Julie Orr (back), Homeowners (front)
Installer: Modern Landscaping (back), Jose Martinez (front)

Click here to display the plant list in a printer-friendly format.