The Garden Gallery

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Garden Features

1

Edible Garden

2

California Natives

3

Pesticide Free

4

Reclaimed/Recycled Materials

5

Sheet Mulching

6

Lawn Conversion

7

Lawn-Free Landscaping

8

Permeable Surfaces

Partner: North Marin Water District

The Garden Gallery showcases one woman’s passion for zonal denial, fine horticulture, and ceramic sculpture, developed over 25 years.

The entrance features a deep blue mosaic path that leads visitors into a small urban garden retreat, filled with oversized succulents, vibrant flowers, and handmade ceramic acorns. It’s a perfect spot to relax with a cup of tea and imagine the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland. The front lawn was transformed from traditional grass to a gravel garden, with welded wire laid under the pebbles to deter gophers. The side yard is a study in shade-tolerant plants, featuring bromeliads, succulents, and striking foliage. As a proud member of the SF Bromeliad Club, the backyard boasts even more bromeliads, palm trees, and exotic foliage, alongside unique horticultural specimens collected from garden clubs and botany trips around the world. The Garden Gallery also houses a ceramic sculpture studio.

On the day of the tour, The Garden Gallery will be offering plant divisions and an open sculpture gallery!

Plants in this Garden

Sambucus spp

Elderberry
Organization

Fast-growing shrubs and small trees for sun or part shade that attract pollinators from far and wide to large clusters of cream flowers in spring, followed by berries in summer that provide food to many types of birds. Fruit can also be used for culinary purposes. While naturally fairly wild-looking, elderberries can handle being cut back to the ground in the winter or pruned to maintain size and shape.

Examples:

  • Blue elderberry (S. mexicana [nigra] spp. caerulea, 8-25’) is native from Oregon to Baja California and beyond.
  • Black elderberry (S. nigra, 20-30’) is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and is available in nurseries in the form of many named cultivars. Cut leaf black elderberry (S. n. ‘Black Lace’, 8’ x 8’) has intense dark, fine foliage. Cut leaf elderberry (S. n. ‘Laciniata’, 10’ x 10’) has green leaves, and variegated black elderberry (S. n. ‘Marginata’, 6-12’) has variegated leaves.
  • Water: Low
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Well Drained

Rhamnus alaternus

Italian Buckthorn
Organization

Group of shrubs typically grown for their foliage as background plantings, hedges, or screens. Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus)—a large, evergreen shrub that grows 12-15’ tall and wide from the Mediterranean region—is the most widely available of the buckthorns. Italian buckthorn is adapted to coastal and inland environments and tolerates clipping and pruning well. R. a. ‘Variegata’ has leaves with cream edges.

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

Iris douglasiana & cvs

Douglas Iris, Pacific Coast Hybrids
Organization

Iris are a large and diverse group of perennials that grow from either bulbs or rhizomes. The California native Douglas iris and cultivars known as Pacific Coast Hybrids are an excellent choice for summer-dry gardens and understory plantings. Fall rain brings new growth in the form of thin, upright leaves, followed in late winter to early spring by the first blossoms. Douglas iris commonly ranges in color from lavender to purple, but cultivars are available in a range of colors including white and yellow. Established plantings can be lifted and divided after the first significant fall rain and either replanted or put into containers to share with others.

  • Water: Low
  • Light: Partial ShadeShade
  • Soil: Most Soils

Salvia spp

Sage
Organization

Salvias are a huge group of more than 900 species that include annuals, perennials, and shrubs adapted to a variety of climates and have varying water requirements. Salvias are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and are generally ignored by deer. Sages that are native to California are generally drought-tolerant, prefer full sun, and little to no fertilizer. Annual pruning in late summer or fall generally helps to keep plants tidy and healthy.

CA native sages:

  • S. apiana, white sage (3-4’ x 4-6’), silvery-white, aromatic leaves with tall flower spikes of white flowers, popular for honey production and in bundles as a natural incense.
  • ‘Bee’s Bliss’ (1-2’ x 6-8’), superb, light gray groundcover with light purple flowers on long spikes; damp conditions can cause mildew which will clear with warm weather and sunny conditions.
  • S. clevelandii, Cleveland sage (3-5’ x 3-5’), medium-sized shrub for hot, dry locations known for pleasant fragrance and deep blue whorls of flowers; popular cultivars include S. c. ‘Allen Chickering’, S. c. ‘Pozo Blue’, and S. c. ‘Winnifred Gilman’.
  • S. leucophylla, purple sage, includes plants with both an upright growth habit, such as S. l. ‘Amethyst Bluff’ (3-5’ x 3-5’) and others with a sprawling form, such as S. l. ‘Point Sal’ (2-3’ x 6’), both of which are from Santa Barbara county.
  • S. sonomaensis, Sonoma sage (1-2’ x 3-4’), groundcover that prefers light shade and will not tolerate damp conditions; cultivars include S. s. ‘Dara’s Choice’, S. s. ‘Greenberg Gray’, and S. s. ‘Hobbit Toes’.
  • S. spathacaea, hummingbird sage (1-2’ spreading), herbaceous groundcover that grows well in dry shade and spreads slowly by underground rhizomes; large leaves have a wonderful fruity fragrance; the only red-flowered native sage.
  • S. mellifera, black sage (6′ x 10′), evergreen shrub that grows well in full sun and well drained soils. Dark green leaves with pale purple flowers in late spring and early summer.

Non-native sages:

  • S. chamaedryoides, germander sage (2-3’)
  • S. chiapensis, Chiapas sage (1-2’ x 3-4’)
  • S. greggii, autumn sage (1-4’ x 1-4’)
  • S. leucantha, Mexican bush sage (3-4’ x 3-6’)
  • S. microphylla, cherry sage (3-4’ x 3-6’)
  • S. officinalis, garden sage (1-3’ x 1-3’)
  • Water: Very LowLowModerate
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Well Drained

Quercus kelloggii

Black Oak
Organization

Woody perennial, deciduous tree. Large slow growing native with beautiful spring foliage. Large, glossy, green leaves with bristly tipped lobes. Large acorns within tree. Susceptible to Sudden Oak Death.

  • Water: Low
  • Light: Full SunPartial Shade
  • Soil: Well Drained

Bromeliads – Aechmea, Billbergia, Neoregelia, Alcantarea, Vriesea , Tillandsias

Zauchneria

Sambucus nigra

Rhamnus alaternus

Iris Pacific Coast hybrids

Salvias – leucantha and many others

Boxwood

Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme – seasonal herbs

Aeoniums – vast varieties

Agave attenuata, ovatifolia

Succulents

Doryanthus

Dymondia

Pittosporum

Quercus kelloggii

Leucospermums

Leucadendrons

Brugmansia

Begonias

Geraniumums 

Bamboo

Maytens

Palms

Favorite Plants

1

Vitis Rogers Red

2

Dudleya farnosa

3

Eschscholzia

4

Zauchneria

5

Iris

Favorite Garden Suppliers

Emerisa Gardens

555 Irwin Lane Santa Rosa

Wholesale Grower

Cal Flora Nursery

2990 Somers Street Fulton

Urban Tree Farm

3010 Fulton Road Fulton

Recommended Resources

David Feix

He has an informative Instagram page!