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Fernwood St. Garden
California coastal plants were the most appropriate for this north peninsula front yard, located at a street corner. Eve case coffeeberry and owleswood blue ceanothus shrubs line the white picket fence. The old, dried up lawn gave way to native ground covers, such as uva-ursi manzanita, California meadow sedge, dune tansy and hummingbird fuchsia. A few mature, exotic specimens (southern magnolia, Chinese tallow, juniper and a star jasmine hedge outside of the fence) were kept from the original landscape. A permeable, woodchip-mulched garden path leads the way around the garden and helps retain the rain water on the property. The new garden provides color and interest in all seasons for the owners and food and shelter for the wildlife. In it's 3rd year, the garden thrives on monthly drip irrigation, quarterly maintenance and no chemicals or fertilizers.
Most of the pictures seen here were taken in December, 2006, after completion of the winter maintenance.
A meandering garden path leads the eye to the north east. California meadow sedge is used as ground cover under the mature southern magnolia.
South sast view of the garden. An eve case coffeeberry hedge lines the inside of the picket fence and pacific wax myrtle provides privacy by the windows.
The California meadow sedge stays green all year long with minimal drip irrigation and requires no mowing.
Owleswood blue ceanothus (in early bloom) mingles with coffeeberry along this fence. In just 2 years, these shrubs have almost reached their mature size, yet require only semi-annual pruning/shaping.
The deer grass and Berkeley sedge, growing along the side of the house, just got their vinter "crew cut".
Neat clumps of sea trift and California poppy line the path. The coffeeberry shrubs are full of red and dark purple fruit this time of year, nurturing the birds.
Uva-ursi manzanita ground cover is getting established on the left, under the Chinese tallow tree. Pacific wax myrtle seen on the right.
In this late summer picture, hummingbird fuchsia (a favorite nectar source for the hummers) is blooming in the background and compliments the gray tones of the California sagebrush.
Close up of uva-ursi manzanita. In 2 years this care free ground cover has tripled in size and it roots as it grows.