Irrigation method(s):

Drip Irrigation, Recycled Water, Rain Barrels

Tell us about your landscape:

The goal was a native garden in an English cottage style that is highly aromatic along the walkways with different tactile surfaces and different contrasting plant and flower colors to create texture and depth. A variety of drought-tolerant California natives, edibles, and seasonal flowers were planted that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Using green design principles, the garden is irrigated using greywater and rainwater when possible and powered with solar and a battery backup system.

The garden began with a deck being built to the hillside and a 200sqft veggie garden being installed. It then proceeded up the hill a height of 44 additional feet in elevation, width of 54 feet wide at deck and 62 feet wide at the top, and total of 4,850 square feet with multiple paths, stairs, playhouse, flagstone areas, etc.

The garden consists of 13 different fruit trees both dwarf and espalier, 362 native plant shrubs and vines, native plants, 1 mature Toyon tree, 2 Live Oaks, 1 Redwood, 1 California ironwood, 1 children's playhouse, 1 children's slide built into hillside, an arbor with porch swing at top, 300 sqft Roman chamomile play area, and an extensive fairy garden. Main garden is irrigated by greywater via 1 Water ReNu greywater system using showers, baths, bathroom sinks, and laundry to irrigate native and low acidity non-edibles. Edibles and more sensitive plants are irrigated by 2 x 765 rain barrels (1830 gallons) and municipal make-up water as needed for the veggie garden, redwood, 12 blueberry plants (4 varieties), and 35 strawberry plants.