San Anselmo Native Garden

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Garden Features

1

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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Rainwater Harvesting System

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Lawn Conversion

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Lawn-Free Landscaping

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Permeable Surfaces

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Wildlife Habitat

Partner: Marin Water

When Merrily LaBarthe (Georgia Master Gardener) and Blanco Hill Country Texas Master Naturalist) moved into her San Anselmo home, the garden was filled with exotic plants and a lawn that required frequent irrigation. Merrily wanted to make her garden less thirsty and more Eco-Friendly. She removed the sod and some of the plants that needed moderate water. The lawn area was sheet mulched and covered with bark for over 6 months. With her designer Alison Blume, Merrily added permeable pathways and a sitting area using pebbles and eko-flow a permeable binder that allows water to seep into the ground. Around the pathways the gardens were mounded up with soil and plants were added. Merrily added native milkweed, grass and wildflower seeds. The native seeds included lupine, clarkia, poppies, and various others. The mounded-up garden beds have some boulders for a focal point. Lizards & salamanders love the rock garden habitat. Blume’s landscape design includes some evergreen native and Mediterranean shrubs, perennials, grasses and groundcovers, The plan has manzanita groundcovers, salvias, penstemons, verbena de la mina, and yarrow.  As the plants grow, the garden fills with more bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other birds. The birds are attracted to the Ribes sanguineaum, Roger’s Red Grapevine, Coffeeberry and Toyon.  A Rain barrel captures water from the roof gutters and is used for Merrily’s vegetable garden during the very dry season. The lawn sprinkler system was replaced with a drip system which further reduced water usage even with the additional plants. The evergreen shrubs and groundcovers keep the garden looking green in the Winter and creates some privacy screening from the street.

This garden was designed by Alison Blume of Blume and Dean Landscape Design. A garden list will be provided.

Special Events
Landscape Designer - Informational Table
Blume and Dean Landscape Design - Informational Table

Plants in this Garden

Plant Picker

Achillea spp & cvs

Yarrow
Organization

Yarrows are variable low-growing, spreading herbaceous perennials with finely divided leaves that inhabit many temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Flattish clusters of flowers form in spring and well into summer and provide an important nectar source for pollinators and insects. Yarrow can help to stabilize slopes and is a good addition to the upper level of rain gardens and swales. Colors include yellow, pink, and red.

California native spp & cvs: A. millefolium (common yarrow), A. m. ‘Calistoga’, A. m. ‘Island Pink’, A. m. ‘Sonoma Coast’, A. m. ‘Terracotta’.

Other yarrows: A. filipendulina (fern leaf yarrow), A. f. ‘Coronation Gold’, A. ‘Moonshine’, A. tomentosa (woolly yarrow).

  • Water: Low
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Most Soils
Manzanita bush

Arctostaphylos spp & cvs

Manzanita, 'Dr. Hurd'
Organization

Manzanitas vary from carpet-forming groundcovers to small trees. Manzanitas have varying shades of striking, reddish brown bark and can provide structure to a garden. These plants have evergreen foliage, small white-to-pink, urn-shaped blossoms in late winter to early spring, and then small fruits that resemble tiny apples.

Groundcovers: A. ‘Emerald Carpet’ (1’ x 3-6’), A. ‘Pacific Mist’ (2-3’ x 6-8’), A. nummularia ‘Bear Belly’ (1’ x 3’), A. uva ursi ‘Radiant’ (6” x 4-6’), A. uva ursi ‘Wood’s Compct’ (1’ x 3’).

Shrubs: A. ‘Howard McMinn’ (5-7’ x 6-10’), A. ‘John Dourly’ (3-4’ x 5-6’), A. ‘Lester Rowntree’ (8-10’ x 10-15’), A. ‘Sunset‘ (5-7’), A. bakeri ‘Louis Edmunds’ (8-10’), A. manzanita ‘Sentinel’ (6-8’ x 5’), A. hookeri ‘Wayside’ (3′ x 8′).

Trees: A. manzanita ‘Dr. Hurd’ (10-15′)

  • Water: Very LowLow
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Well Drained
California Lilac

Ceanothus spp & cvs

Ceanothus, California lilac, 'Ray Hartman'
Organization

Ceanothus is a group of fast-growing, evergreen shrubs that vary from groundcovers to small trees, many of which are native to California. They provide a spectacular display of flowers in spring that will attract a multitude of pollinators. Flowers are followed by seeds that provide food for birds. The clusters of tiny flowers range from white to deep violet. Plants perform best with good drainage and minimal irrigation once established. Some do best in cooler coastal climates, but many thrive in hotter inland climates. Pay close attention to the mature size when selecting ceanothus to ensure that it has sufficient space for its natural form.

Groundcovers: C. ‘Centennial’ (1’ x 8’), C. gloriosus var. gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ (2’ x 8’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Diamond Heights’ (variegated, 1’ x 4’), C. griseus var. horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ (3’ x 12’), C. maritimus (2’ x 6’).

Shrubs: C. ‘Blue Jeans’ (6’ x 6’), C. Concha (6’ x 6’), C. ‘Dark Star’ (6’ x 8’), C. ‘Joyce Coulter’ (4’ x 12’), C. ‘Julia Phelps’ (8’ x 10’), C. cuneatus (8’ x 8’), C. thyrsiflorus ‘Skylark’ (4’ x 6’).

Large shrubs: C. ‘Frosty Blue’ (10’ x 12’), C. thyrsiflorus (20’ x 20’), C. t. ‘Snow Flurry’ (white flower, 20’ x 20’).

Trees: C. ‘Ray Hartman’ (15′ x 15′)

  • Water: Very LowLow
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Well Drained

Favorite Garden Suppliers

Sloat Garden Center

700 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Kentfield

Cal Flora Nursery

2990 Somers Street Fulton

LeBallister's Seed and Fertilizer

1250 Sebastopol Road Santa Rosa

Recommended Resources