“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

California is home to ~6,500 different types of native plants.  To showcase the rich diversity of plants, over 25 different types of native plants are in this garden!  The benefits of native plants include less water use, a perfectly matched food source for native bees and birds, and increasing beneficial fungal root networks. By replacing invasive plants with native plants, you can dramatically improve the ability of your yard to support the local ecology.

You can download the list of plants in this garden's here.  

Reducing water use was a high priority for the owners so we removed the lawn completely in both the main area and sidewalk area and replaced it with native plants and permeable hardscape.  Drip irrigation was installed so that water would get directly to the roots of plants and conserve water.

Native plants require far less water than grass lawns and after a year of getting established, will only require occasional watering.  A typical yard can reduce irrigation water use by as much as 50%-75% which can save a lot of utility cost.

Did you know that during a rainstorm, most of the water does not get captured due to "urban runoff"?  This occurs where rainwater runs off of smooth surfaces like contract and asphalt and goes directly to storm drains and into the ocean.  In urban runoff, stormwater gathers all sorts of pollution that is on road and surfaces and ends up in the ocean.

A dry creek bed was installed with a nearby a gutter downspout to capture rainwater.  As it rains, the water will be absorbed along the stone path, ending at the bowl.  Soil acts as natural filter to capture pollutants as groundwater gets replenished.

Soil is a living thing that is filled with millions of tiny organisms that help keep plants healthy Healthy soil has the ability to better retain water, help plants develop health root networks and ultimately increase the ability to absorb carbon in the atmosphere.  

One of the best and easiest way to improve your soil is to cover it with mulch so that it can retain moisture and not get blown away.  As mulch decomposes, it is giving back nutrients to the soil, thus improving soil health.

Many consider bees, specifically native bees as one of the most important species on Earth due to their role in pollinating our food sources.  However, native bee populations continue to decline every year. This is due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use.  

Planting native plants helps provide essential food for native bees, birds, and monarch butterflies. When more people plant native flowering plants, these pollinators don’t have to travel as far to find food—making it easier for them to survive and thrive.

In this garden, we are committed to the following sustainable practices: 

• reducing water use through efficient drip irrigation
• eliminating use of non-organic pesticides and focusing on integrated pest management
• conserving soil through cover and "leaving the leaves"
• reducing number of invasive plants