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.