Mark May 5 to celebrate native plant gardens. That’s when Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour returns for its 15th year, highlighted by 37 gardens in Alameda and Contra Costa counties that spotlight native plants and gardens imparting a sense of something uniquely Californian.
On the self-guided tour, gardens range from small lots in the flatlands to large wooded hillside gardens, all containing 60 percent or more native plants. Some are designed by homeowners, others by professionals, and all exhibit this year’s theme, “Gardens are a natural delight.”
“I want to convey that gardens on this tour are beautiful; people may care about water and pesticides, but they want a beautiful garden to give them pleasure,” said tour organizer Kathy Kramer.
The subject of preventing climate change is also important to Kramer, who believes it should start at home and that a native plant garden is part of what individuals can do. A first step is to replace standard grass lawns with native plants that save money and water, don’t use pesticides and that attract the right wildlife.
“Native plants provide the best food, shelter and nesting areas for wildlife; they provide seeds, berries, pollen, nectar and attract the insects that birds feed on,” Kramer said.
Along with the gardens, artwork will be available for sale, and live music, children’s activities and 40 talks will be offered at various gardens. One of four Alameda gardens on the tour is Jennifer Hurley and Dan Gaff’s garden, new to the event this year. The owners installed the garden themselves, wanting to attract butterflies as well as other wildlife. Planting buckwheat, penstemon, yarrow, monkey flowers and verbena, that goal was accomplished.
“Being in the garden is pure aesthetic joy. One of the best features of a native plant garden is that something is blooming all year round,” Hurley said. “We also love how many creatures visit our garden, bees, dragonflies, hummingbirds and butterflies, who started laying eggs in our garden shortly after we planted natives.”
Hurley recommends new-to-natives gardeners research what plants do well in their microclimate and not be afraid to experiment, citing the Bringing Back the Natives Tour as an excellent way to view a wide variety of gardens and gather ideas. Information on attracting butterflies to gardens will be available and the owners will present three different garden talks on homeowner design, eliminating oxalis and raising butterflies.
Berkeley has two gardens and the Oaktown Native Plant Nursery on the tour. Christine Meuris designed and installed her child-friendly garden, adding an outdoor shower, gazebo, hammock and fountain for human and wildlife visitors. Bunch grasses, snowberry, Douglas iris, California lilac, ceanothus, elderberry, manzanita and native grapevine create a natural feel.
“My garden is always a reflection of cycles happening in wilder parts of California, and that makes me feel connected and rooted,” Meuris said. “My advice to someone starting a native garden is to pick a relatively simple palette of plants and repeat them. Most beautiful landscapes the size of a garden will have a few species of plants in them. Plant in fall, water until established and just go for it! Also a water feature will provide endless bird entertainment.”
Oaktown Native Plant Nursery will participate in the Native Plant Sale Extravaganza and offer a garden design primer talk. El Cerrito’s Prospect Sierra Elementary School is also a not-miss on tour day, combining a new look for the school with a number of garden-related activities throughout the day. These will include chalk art, live music, children’s crafts and story walk and free raffle for butterfly-garden plants. Melody Gil and a team of teachers transformed the school lawn and garden beds into native habitat with manzanitas, sages, toyon, fuchsia and milkweed for monarchs.
“As a school, we recognize the importance of green spaces for health. The garden has transformed the entrance of our school, and students love walking through the meandering path on their way to class. Teachers whose classroom windows open to the front have a view of the gardens all day,” Gil said. “Having a native plant garden shows that you honor the land you live on by maintaining the natural ecosystem, and gardening with natives gives children a space where they can observe natural systems at work. Having these experiences right in your own backyard can inspire a lifelong love of nature.”
Five Oakland gardens and East Bay Wilds are on the tour. Joanne Holland and Scott MacPherson wanted to ‘Put the oaks back in Oakland,” so they sheet-mulched their backyard “disaster” and installed oaks and mostly local natives, including aster, checkerbloom, rushes, buckwheat and goldenrod, as well as an outdoor, semi-enclosed claw foot tub and seating area.
“Our yard feels like a natural expansion of our living space. We can completely relax and rejuvenate. It’s our oasis,” Holland said. “It feels right to return our property to its native oak woodland. Natives can be beautiful.”
Four Dimensions Landscape Co. will be in the garden to answer landscaping questions and present a garden talk on choosing successful plants. Two other Oakland gardens are walking distance apart on the same street. Clytia and Joe Curley will feature Wild Jules Crafted Seed Balls wildflower and grass seeds for sale. Nick and Liza Mealy’s garden will offer two garden talks, and Patricia Osage will sell handmade mosaics. East Bay Wilds, normally open by appointment only, will participate in the Sale Extravaganza, and owner Pete Veilleux will speak on choosing the right plant for the right location.
If you go
What: 15th Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5.
Info: The suggested donation is $15 per person. Register online by April 27 to receive their garden guide in the mail at bringingbackthenatives.net, where more details are available.
