A Southern Marin Native Plant Garden

Looking down the Woodland slope/riparian zone of the garden with wooden steps and dry creek bed.

Western Bleeding Heart, Dicentra formosa, in bloom and Heuchera with variegated leaves. In back is Elks Clover, Aralia californica.

Dry creek bed where it joins Dry Meadow

Looking up Woodland Slope.

Western Azalea, Rhododendron occidentale in bloom.

Looking across Coastal Scrub to Dry Meadow

Steps leading from Woodland slope to Coastal Scrub and Dry Meadow. Penstemon heterophyllus, Blue Bedder Penstemon in Bloom.

Coastal Scrub garden zone. Shrubs on the right side are Coffeeberry, Frangula californica (syn. Rhamnus c.) and Prostrate Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’. Sonoma Sage, Salvia sonomensis, is in bloom. The large grass is California Fescue, Festuca californica, our favorite California native grass; on the coast it works well in sun or shade and with or without irrigation once established.

Farewell to Spring, Clarkia amoena in bloom. Coyote Brush and Coast Live Oak , Quercus agrifolia, in background.

Coast Buckwheat, Eriogonum latifolium is loved by bees and butterflies.

California Bush-anemone, Carpenteria californica, in bloom

California Bush-anemone flower with pollinator. Not just bees and butterflies are pollinators.

Dry meadow with Clarkia, Clarkia unguiculata, and California Poppy.

Mountain Garland, Clarkia unguiculata.

A riot of Clarkias.

More Clarkias along the path separating the Dry Meadow from the Coastal Scrub zone.

Looking across Brushy Meadow to Coastal Scrub and Dry Meadow.

Penstemon and California Poppy.

Brushy Meadow and Hedgerow.

Brushy Meadow with Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Oenethera elata, ssp. hookeri, in bloom.

Stone bench with dead pine tree left to provide insects for the birds.

Our local Seaside Daisy, Erigeron glaucus, does well in the garden.

Bush Mallow, Malacothamnus fremontii (purple) and Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri (yellow).

This shows the hedgerow at an earlier age with a blooming blue blossom Ceanothus. The yard is abuzz with bees when the Ceanothus are bloom.

Hedgerow after several years.

Hedgerow showing Bolinas Manzanita, Arctostaphylos virgata, a Marin endemic, is a fast-growing fire following Manzanita that competes with Bishop Pine in nature.

Hedgerow filled in. This dense native hedgerow was planted along one side of the yard which includes large shrubs such as Manzanita, Ceanothus, Mountain Mahogany, Toyon and Buckeye. These have been allowed to intertwine to provide dense cover for the birds. The hedgerow was irrigated for two years to establish the shrubs; they now receive no supplemental water.

Bolinas Manzanita at about seven years old.

Fruit of the Bolinas Manzanita.

Buckeye, Aeschylus californica.

Steps leading up the slope on other side of the house. This is a hot area that gets reflected afternoon sun. Plants in this area are highly drought tolerant received no supplemental water after they are established. Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides),on the right, is a narrow shrub that is good for tight spaces. It is also completely drought tolerant after it’s established.

Bush Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii)towering over Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)

Coast buckwheat with native bumblebee.

Not all insect pollinators are bees.

Bee on Buckwheat.

European Honey Bee on native Morning Glory, Calystegia purpurea

This small pond with waterfall is a huge attractor for native birds. Adjoining the pond is a small bog. Native plants that can be put directly into the pond shown in this photo include Seep Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus), Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica and Fiber Optic Grass (Scirpus cernuus). Bog Lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus, is a beautiful bog plant.

Seep Monkey Flower and Yerba Mansa. In foreground is Penstemon heterophylus.

Bog Lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus

Garden construction: backyard cleared for creation of native garden.

Garden construction: paths, hardscape and mulch in but no plants.

Garden construction: planting day.

The theme of this virtually 100% California native hillside garden is the wealth of garden-worthy native plants local to Marin County that can create a beautiful and diverse garden landscape. The vast majority of the approximately 200 species of plants in this garden are California natives that grow in the wild in Marin County. The garden is sectioned into different habitats that include riparian/woodland slope, coastal shrub, dry meadow, brushy meadow, hedgerow and chaparral.

Attracts Pollinators and Birds – One of the joys of the native garden is the return of beneficial insects and bees. With the huge and sudden decline of European honeybee pollinators, California native bees are the pollinators of last resort. Native bees flourish among the wide variety of flowering plants in this garden. A variety of butterflies visits the garden for nectar and larval plants. Insects, nectar, seeds, berries and protective cover also attract a variety of birds, including Bewick’s wrens, scrub jays, ruby-crowned kinglets, juncos, towhees, golden-crowned sparrows and Anna’s Hummingbirds.
Woodland Slope – A dry creek bed and path wander down the slope among California currant, scarlet monkey flower, red twig dog wood, creambush, elk’s clover, salal, California myrtle, solomon’s seal, coastal irises and a variety of ferns and Spring ephemerals are among the many native riparian plants found in this area.
Dry Meadow – A dry meadow features drought tolerant grasses, perennials and a few shrubs. It also features a variety of annual wildflowers that are sown annually to supplement those that reseeded from the previous year. Most showy are the clarkias that come in many shades of pink and red.
Hedgerow – One side of the garden is planted with large native shrubs that form a hedgerow that provides cover for birds.
Declining Water Use – Grouping plants by habitat results in more efficient irrigation and lower water usage. Plants in the most drought tolerant zones receive no supplemental water after they are established. Drip irrigation is used throughout the garden except for the dry meadow. Plants in the chaparral and hedgerow areas have been completely weaned off of irrigation.
Virtually No Fertilizers or Soil Amendments – Because most California natives are happiest without much fertilizer and soil amendments, this garden uses no continuing applications of fertilizer. During planting only a small amount of soil amendment was worked into the soil to lighten up the clay/chert soil and a small amount of organic fertilizer was added.
No Pesticides or Fungicides – California natives are adapted to surviving and, if happy, thriving in Marin without pesticides and fungicides. The variety of plants and habitats in this garden attract a large variety of beneficial insects and birds that maintain a natural balance in the garden. Nature is allowed to take its course rather than resorting to chemical warfare, and nature’s course in this varied ecosystem has favored this benign neglect.