All Grown Up

This San Francisco garden makes us appreciate winters in our moderate climate.  A recent renovation in 2015 converted the lawn area into a patio space surrounded by herbs and blooming perennials.

After a single growing season, our Bay Area gardens come to life with flowers and foliage attracting beneficial insects, birds and bees.

This Berkeley cottage garden designed in conjunction with Planted Earth was installed about 3 years ago.

Woodland Retreat

This recently completed Oakland project called for low retaining walls in the back garden to support the sloping landscape and prevent soil build up from the existing Cedar and Oak trees.

The primary viewpoint and experience of this garden will be from the deck above.  The goal was to create a woodland sanctuary for the local bird population will adding color and interest in the shady conditions.  I used bright leaf color and different textures to create contrast that would be visible from above.

Plants are spaced to accommodate future growth.

Stone steps add visual interest and functionality.

In the front we planted the existing redwood terraced boxes with native and low water plantings such as Correa, Verbena and Euphorbia.  In the lower planting space a dry creek bed was added to break up the planting space. 

Strategically placed stones help create a 'bend' in the river bed.

Now the home owners can enjoy a 'Zen' moment before entering their home.

The Lawn is Gone

This garden in Oakland was planted in spring 2014.  The lawn was converted into a native garden enhanced with non-native succulents and drought tolerant perennials.

The lush and cheery feeling this small garden evokes encourages bees, butterflies and birds to stop in for pollen and nectar from flowering perennials. Coyote brush, Yellow current, Sticky monkey flower, Coral bells and Santolina are among the native perennials in bloom.

Curve Appeal

Our most recent project wrapped in El Cerrito this week.  A small narrow concrete walkway was re-placed by this lovely curving Connecticut Full Range flagstone.  A large landing area serves as a step out from the driveway and an access point from the sidewalk.

After

Before

Another lawn bites the dust!  We sheet mulched and planted over the old lawn.  The plants are a combination of native and South African low water and drought tolerant selections.  

I will post updates on the garden as it grows and fills in more.

Garden Photos and Random Sightings

This Oakland Victory garden was installed in 2013.  The drought tolerant and low water plantings surround and 'L' shaped veggie bed encouraging pollination for edibles.  See Eastlake Ave on the Fiddlehead Gardens Project page for details.

Edibles abound in this raised bed with perennials on one side and a low water lawn on the other.

Oakland Garden Oasis.

Field of Dreams.

After dinner in San Francisco one evening I came across this lonely stone looking for a home.   It is randomly sitting at the edge of a cross walk at Harrison and 7th Streets.  Be sure to look both ways before crossing!

Alternative Lifestyle

This El Cerrito garden had lovely modern concrete work but the original planting of ornamental grasses had outworn their welcome.  To accommodate the home owners request for an open usable front garden that would draw the neighborhood children to visit and play with their young ones we reworked the existing layout keeping and pruning the screening trees and adding drought tolerant plantings surrounding a lawn alternative of Dymondia.

 

Boulders are used as seats that will eventually flank an adult sized bench.  River stones that once filled in between stepping stones were repurposed to fill in around stones for easy stepping.

 
The areas between the stepping stones are now planted with drought tolerant Wooly Thyme and shade tolerant Blue Star Creeper.  The plant selection of Euphorbia, Kangaroo paw, Cordyline, Carex and Verbena lend themselves to this modern hardscape.

Before Images

 

Step to it

A new look for this garden in Albany.  Old cracked concrete is replaced with pre-cut Connecticut Full Range flagstone flanked by Napa boulder retaining walls.  The Montana stone slab steps add a natural break in the linear walkway that bridge  retaining walls and address the steep grade change to the front steps.  The garden is planted with low maintenance, low water perennials and shrubs that will fill in over time without overgrowing each other.

Additional hardscape features include driveway tiles and a walkway that leads from the driveway to entry path.  The driveway tiles lead into a veggie bed and storage area for recycling bins.  The space between the driveway is planted with Wooly Thyme. The small trellis planted with a red Mandevilla vine provides a bid of screening at the property line.

    

Before Images

What's New?

Some of recent projects are highlighted below:
A new look for Flowerland in Albany

This Utah ledge stone was used to create low retaining walls along the front entry of Flowerland.  This creates a level planting area along the sidewalk and prevents soil from continually slipping.  The golden color of the stone works well with the blue succulents Agave and Senicio.

















This Oakland back garden was renovated to create more open space for the homeowners' children.
A low water and low maintenance Now Mow sod was installed to create a play space.  Drought tolerant and native plants that add color and visual interest around the perimeter of the space.

Below are the 'before images'.  The garden was overgrown and not ideal for a family with small children.  The stones were repurposed to become a 'jumping off' point for the lawn and the smaller stone was moved along side the patio for natural seating.