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Garden Features

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Drought Tolerant

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Edible Garden

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California Natives

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Drip Irrigation

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Pesticide Free

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Reclaimed/Recycled Materials

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Sheet Mulching

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Lawn Conversion

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Lawn-Free Landscaping

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Permeable Surfaces

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Urban Homestead

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Wildlife Habitat

Purchased August 2013, I bought this small c. 1900 house in downtown Sebastopol, hoping to transform its landscape. The front yard had a small lawn and a venerable Catalpa tree.The side yard was a gravel driveway.The back “garden” was a flat weed patch. In March 2014, using LOTS of compost, I started planting. My previous garden had been in pots, tubs and troughs—137 containers in all. It took 30+ loads in my old Volvo to drive them 6 blocks to their new home. Many plants had originally come from my mom’s garden in San Mateo county, including a 70+ year old Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick and equally aged Rabbit’s Foot Fern. 4 modest potted citrus have since grown into a “Citrus Forest” on the south side of the house. My hope was to make a garden that would welcome and nourish pollinators. Bryce MacMath, who trained at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, helped me lay out the beds in 2014. He also installed the initial drip irrigation. Depending on plant needs, beds are watered every 4-14 days during dry months. Master pruner Curtis Short now visits 3x a year (thank goodness!) to guide the espaliered pear and figs, as well as continuing to shape the persimmon and Silk Tassel tree, etc. I do all other garden labor. I sheet mulched the lawns, using cardboard, compost and chips from on-site tree work. Boards from the old back fence were ripped into thirds, creating a “new” picket fence, separating the garden from South Main Street. The front is mostly California natives, with a few plants from elsewhere favored by honey, native bees and butterflies, including Pipeline Swallowtails, Monarchs and Anise Swallowtails. Also in front is a “Little Free Library” that matches the house. I welcome garden visitors: insect, avian and human.

The back garden features CA Fuchsia (Epilobium canus), CA native Silk Tassel Tree (Garrya elliptical) salvias, fruit trees and lots of “oddball” plants that I love. Many have been chosen to provide nectar, pollen or seed for insects or birds and tasty fruit for hungry humans. Bird sightings range from Anna’s Hummingbird to Barn Owl. This little urban garden produces vast amounts of organic material that I hot compost. I have three compost bins that are ‘cooking’ . Most kitchen waste goes to my worm box.

It’s a small urban garden. I’ve used fences and the shared hedge to grow 18+ varied vines for vertical excitement. Vines were chosen because they are pollinator friendly, fragrant, or particularly beautiful. The patio is made of bricks from the rickety kitchen chimney that was demolished. I’ve used old objects as planters, including my great-grandmother’s two cast iron kettles. In the 19th century she used them to render lard and make soap.

I enjoy a bit of whimsy. There are surprises..…