Irrigation method(s):

Drip Irrigation, Rain Barrels

Tell us about your landscape:

The goal was to cultivate a native garden that is beneficial to insects and wildlife friendly. We've seen the return of wildlife after project completion and enjoy watching the California Bumble Bees and other other insects and birds visiting our plants, seeds, flowers and berries. We started the project by removing the existing grass and all plants which were non-native so we could start with a clean slate (with the exception of 1 mature tree and 2 bushes) and replaced the landscape with 95% California Native Plants. We focused much of our plant selection on hyper local to our specific coastal area, many of which you might find on a hike in our town such as coastal sagebrush, dune sagewort, and coastal buckwheat . The additional 5% non-native are rated low for Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species and drought resistant. We utilized Corten Steel planters for our vegetable gardens as an architectural touch and a driftwood bench. We added hardscape with pavers which is angled to direct the rain water where we want it to go and a permeable decomposed granite pathway which meanders through the entire garden. Sonoma Moss Rock is placed throughout the landscape as retention walls and for natural aesthetic. We kept erosion in mind with plant placement on our hillside. We repurposed an old existing playhouse by transforming it into a simple greenhouse. We are using drip irrigation in the landscape for the first year and once we get to the rainy season and our rain barrels fill, they will be used to supplement watering on exceptionally (but rare) hot days. 

I acknowledge my garden was installed on the ancestral and unceded land of the Ohlone People.

Credit: We worked with landscape designer PlantKind.co to make sure we got it right!