The Unity Garden is a demonstration and learning space of the U.C. Master Gardener program of Sonoma County. This beautifully restored section of the larger Petaluma Bounty Farm was created in 2022 when it was overrun by six-foot-tall weeds and cardoons, but with the help of dedicated Master Gardeners, it was lovingly brought back to life. These gardeners employed sheet mulching techniques using cardboard and vast amounts of arbor mulch to suppress weeds, pruned neglected shrubs, and reshaped the landscape.
Volunteer hours were integral to the restoration, with the creation of a California Native hedgerow atop a specially crafted native soil berm being one of the most notable features. This hedgerow has flourished, attracting a variety of wild birds, butterflies, and insects that thrive on native plants. Alongside the native plants, the garden also includes an edible garden, a pollinator garden, several fruit trees, and a raised demonstration bed designed for teaching visitors about gardening techniques. The Unity Garden stands as a symbol of community restoration, ecological education, and food security.
Bounty Farm is a 6-acre farm that focuses on providing fresh produce to the community, particularly those facing food insecurity.
On the day of the tour, The Unity Garden will be offering several tours throughout the day. They will also have free handouts with educational materials and also a little free library offering books and seeds to share.
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’).
Penstemons are a large group of woody or herbaceous perennials with narrow leaves and tubular flowers. Foothill penstemon is a widely known and grown California native with iridescent purple-blue flowers during spring and early summer that are attractive to hummingbirds. The cultivar known as ‘Margarita BOP’ is widely available, reliable, and garden- tolerant. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more flowers.
Evergreen shrub that has insignificant flowers followed by berries that age from green to red and then black. Flowers are attractive to pollinators, especially bees, and berries provide a food source for birds. Cultivars commonly sold in nurseries have differing growth habits and are often smaller than the species which grows 5-15’ tall and wide.
Examples:F. c. ‘Eve Case’ (6-8’ x 6-8’), R. c. ‘Leatherleaf’ (5-6’ x 5-6’), R. c. ‘Mound San Bruno’ (6-8’ x 6-8’) with a dense, mounding growth habit.
Note: California coffeeberry was formerly classified as Rhamnus californica and is now classified as Frangula californica.
Colony-forming, herbaceous perennials with several species providing important habitat and larval food sources for the monarch butterfly while attracting a diverse array of insects.
California milkweeds go dormant during the colder months. Stems that emerge in April or May bear clusters of small, star-like flowers in summer followed by silky-tailed seeds that are dispersed by wind. Choose a California native species to best support local monarch populations and provide a food source for their larvae.
A. fascicularis (narrow-leaved milkweed, 1-3’) has clusters of lavender or pinkish white flowers; A. speciosa (showy milkweed, 2-4’) has larger, soft foliage, and showier flower clusters; A. cordifolia (heart leaf milkweed, 1-2′) has bluish green heart-shaped leaves, and creamy white and purple flowers.
Popular group of annuals, perennials, and shrubs with distinctive divided leaves that are common throughout the western United States, including California. Pea-like flowers are displayed on spikes and are attractive to bees and other pollinators. Most native lupines are purple-flowered, while some are yellow. Provide full sun and good drainage and watch out for slugs and snails.
Examples: Silver bush lupine (L. albifrons, 3-4’ x 3-4’), coastal bush lupine (L. arboreus) available with either blue or yellow flowers, and blue-and-white lupine (L. bicolor) a low-growing, annual wildflower.
Currants (without spines) and gooseberries (with spines) are grown for their graceful growth habit, attractive foliage, wonderful displays of pendulous flowers in winter-spring that are attractive to hummingbirds, and colorful fruit that provides a food source for birds. Most of the species listed are deciduous, going dormant in the summer months.
Examples: Some of the species suitable for California gardens, preferably with partial shade, are native to the Western United States:
R. aureum, golden currant (5-10’ x 3-6’), deciduous with small clusters of delicate yellow flowers and sprawling habit.
R. malvaceum, chaparral currant (4-8’ x 4-6’), deciduous with early clusters of pink flowers, a slightly vase-shaped habit, and more drought-tolerant than most species.
R. sanguineum var. glutinosum, pink-flowering currant (5-12’ x 5-12’), deciduous with maple-like leaves, a vase-shaped habit, and long pendulous clusters of pink, reddish, or white flowers in the spring; many available cultivars such as ‘Claremont’ and ‘White Icicle’.
R. speciosum, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (4-8’ x 6-10’), deciduous with spiny, arching stems and bright red fuchsia-like flowers along the stems in the spring that are attractive to hummingbirds.
R. viburnifolium, evergreen currant or Catalina perfume (2-4’ x 5-7’), evergreen groundcover that works well under oaks and can provide erosion control to slopes.
