Growing Natives Garden Tour 2010

Strauss Family Garden (4 photos)

Garden #27, Sunnyvale

 

Showcase Features: Recycled urbanite and brick pathways, an urbanite patio and a unique style of water permeable driveway highlights the new hardscaping elements of this professionally designed garden, predominantly landscaped with native plants.

Other Garden Attractions: The front garden's mound was built of extra soil from the back yard and is supported by a beautiful, serpentine shaped, dry stack wall that is accented by John Dourley manzanita. The mound is decorated with a leafy reed grass meadow, punctuated with narrow-leaved milkweed. Bee's bliss sage and Carmel Sur manzanita edges the front urbanite pathway which borders a newly constructed porch before it connects to the back garden. The lower part of the front yard features a valley oak, underplanted with hummingbird sage and pigeon point coyote brush. California goldenrod, California fuchsia and coast aster provide summer colors. California fescue, blue-eyed grass and ithuriel's spier bulbs thrive under a mature liquidambar city tree. Leatherleaf coffeeberry and a dark star ceanothus provide a casual hedge along the property line next to the driveway.

In the back garden, a retaining wall edges the back fence that is planted with toyon, Ray Hartman ceanothus, snowberry, Douglas iris and pink coral bells. A Roger's red wild grape is trained on the side fence, and the center of the garden features a newly constructed raised bed that is edged by mossy mason fieldstone and planted with St. Catherine's lace and rosy buckweat, blue-eyed grass, and hairy gum plant. Foothill penstemon, Idahoe fescue, yarrow, seaside daisy, coyote mint and goldenrod provide additional color and texture. Shady areas feature yerba buena, espaliered evergreen currant and western sword fern. A meandering goldfines path connects to the urbanite patio and access paths.


Gardening for Wildlife: The garden was designed to provide habitat for various birds, butterflies, bumble bees and other insects. Food, shelter and places to raise young are all present. A bird bath and a circulating fountain supply fresh water.

Years of CA Native Gardening at this Location: 2

Garden Size: 4100 sq ft

Designer: Agi Kehoe
Installer: Earthcare Landscaping

Click here to download the plant list in PDF format.

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