By Julie Orr and Stephanie Morris

1) Winnifred Gilman Salvia, Salvia Clevelandii ‘Winnifred Gilman’ – This cultivar related to Cleveland Sage is evergreen and shoots out sprays of tall blue-violet flowers drawing delicate hummingbirds, butterflies and helpful insects.

2) Saint Catherine’s Lace, Eriogonum giganteum – The evergreen is valued for rapid growth, gray foliage and white blooms.

3) California Fuchsia, Epilobium canum- Easy to grow, this flower is most alluring to hummingbirds. It has red flowers and sweet nectar.

4) Deer grass, Muhlenbergia rigens – This excellent accent plant features long seed heads, and you can enjoy seeing them sway under a gentle breeze.

5) Ray Hartman Ceanothus, Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ – A popular California lilac, this small tree makes an excellent focal point for tiny gardens. Also looks amazing against a wall or fence as an espalier.

6) Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis- This treasure features heart-shaped leaves and gives off a breathtaking winter show of hot pink buds.

7) Bush Anemone, Carpenteria californica– The joyful evergreen native features dark green leaves year round and surprises all with white fragrant flowers blooming from spring to summer.

8. Paradise Manzanita, Arctostaplyos parahoensis- This is considered a great plant because of its year round appeal with evergreen foliage and nice red bark. Hummingbirds love its bell shaped flowers.

9) Pacific Coast Iris, Iris douglasiana ­­ ­­- A spring blooming small scale plants tolerant of part shade and moist or dry soils, with showy flowers in the spring.

10) Seaside Daisy, Erigeron ‘Wayne Roderick’- It is one of the few that flowers in the spring, summer and fall as long as you keep deadheading the spent flowers. Perfect along the edge of a pathway.

This backyard  in Saratoga involved a huge transformation to remove a dominating and unused swimming pool and to find new homes for all the non-native plants. The result is a water-wise garden with features like a small twin-boulder fountain and a riparian rain garden that collects storm water from the home’s downspouts. The design meanders around the garden to reveal other outdoor rooms like a shade arbor for relaxing, a cooking platform and raised planter beds for vegetables and roses

Other Garden Attractions:  a boulder fountain pond and a riparian rain garden.

This is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Shelter and nesting are provided by the abundant native plants, dense shrubs, a wood pile, and bird and bee houses. Seeds, berries and insects provide food, while the pond  supplies fresh water.

Before Julie Orr Design

This garden shows that sustainable landscaping can be accomplished through DIY talent and on a shoe-string budget when working closely with a professional landscape designer. The Craftsman home said goodbye to its water-thirsty lawn and concrete hardscape, and now features a dry creek bed that drains rainwater away from the house, marked by a rock fountain surrounded by California gray rush. The old concrete path was resurrected as decorative urbanite walls for native bunch grasses, Pacific iris, evergreen huckleberry and woodland strawberry.   Shrubs include ceanothus,  coffeeberry and manzanita.  Island alum root fills a large window box. A natural rock fountain and metal “cat-tails” birdfeeders encourage birds to visit the garden often.

Clay and Lisa already prided themselves in living a sustainable lifestyle, but this was not reflected in their garden. The water-loving lawn and impervious concrete had to go.

Before Julie Orr Design

Many people have concerns about planting around oak trees and for good reason. Oaks do not tolerate summer irrigation, and those that insist on planting water thirsty plants like lawns near their oaks risk killing their trees by encouraging sudden oak death syndrome or other diseases. So that is why it’s especially important to select natives that are acclimated to this particular hydrozone. Once established, you can reduce or stop irrigation. As a tip, if you install your oak understory in the fall before the rains, you’ll have one season of “free irrigation” under your belt.

Coral Bells or Heuchera are an excellent choice for dry shade groundcover and will take your breath away when planted in large masses. There are many wonderful hybrids of Heuchera to try. For an easy growing choice, use Heuchera ‘Wendy’ with its green leaves, purple veining and tall flower spikes. This evergreen perennial can also be enjoyed in window boxes and will attract hummingbirds that you can watch from indoors.

If you want to entice hummingbirds into the garden, Hummingbird sage is another winner under oaks. Salvia spathacea spreads on its own to create a groundcover with bright pink flowers that bloom typically March through May.

Our Coastal Wood Fern, Dryoperteris arguta, is one of the few ferns that is both drought tolerant and evergreen. Since it can withstand root competition, it’s suitable for under trees like oak, bay and pine. To keep its lush, green appearance, simply remove older fronds as they brown.

Again since it can survive with little supplemental water, Pacific Coast  Iris work wonderfully as an understory plant. Iris douglasiana with  purple flowers or I. douglasiana ‘Canyon Snow’ with white flowers are sure to brighten any oak woodland.

These native plants work especially well with oak communities in the following cities: Portola Valley, Menlo Park, Atherton, Los Altos, Woodside and Hillsborough.

Are you considering going native? Did you know that plants native to our region have many advantages over “traditional” exotic landscaping plants?

Many chaparral, oak woodland and desert communities of California natives actually require less water and maintenance. So you not only save on your water bills, but you save precious time spent pruning and mowing.

Another advantage to our natives is that are conditioned to grow in our native soil types. That means that many do not require special soil amendment beyond compost and actually prefer not to be fertilized. This translates into more money savings on materials and a safer, non-toxic environment for you, your pets and family.

Last but certainly not least, natives attract a wealth of butterflies, birds and beneficial insects (the good bugs that eat the unwanted bugs). It won’t be long before you notice that your native garden is teaming with earthworms and soil microbes which directly affect the health and happiness of your plants, and in turn attract a diverse ecosystem of wildlife.

So why not go native and create your own diverse ecosystem right at home?

You can see this garden and many others on the Going Native Garden Tour Sunday April 17th, 2011
http://www.goingnativegardentour.org/GNGT/Home.html

These Julie Orr Design top plants choices not only have year-round interest in the garden but they are easy to care for and maintain. Once established in your garden, they only require deep irrigation 1-2 times per month.

1. Salvia clevelandii ‘Winnifred Gilman’- This California native evergreen sage produces sprays of tall blue-violet flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects
2. Eriogonum giganteum-Saint Catherine’s Lace is an evergreen California native plant prized for its fast growing, showy gray foliage and airy white flowers that attract beneficial insects.
3. Epilobium canum- the California Fuchsia is a California native plant that is not only easy to grow but attracts hummingbirds effortlessly with it’s red colored flowers and sweet nectar.
4. Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Nana’- Dwarf Germander is a great substitution in place of lavender where  a year-round evergreen appearance is desired. It’s low growing with pink flowers and does well in both full sun or partial shade.
5. Muhlenbergia rigens- Deer Grass is a wonderful accent plant with strong shape and texture. The long seed heads give enjoyable movement – just wait for a light breeze to help them sway back and forth.
6. Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’- Showy lavender flowers bloom through spring and summer with evergreen light green leaves.
7. Ceanothus  ‘Ray Hartman’- One of the best California Lilacs for the garden because it’s more forgiving than other varies when it comes to summer irrigation. Since it is an evergreen, small tree, it makes a good screen or focal point for smaller gardens.
8. Cercis occidentalis- The Western Redbud, also a California native, has the sweetest heart shaped leaves and dramatic winter displays of hot pink buds. It is deciduous and doesn’t like to be over-watered.
9. Carpenteria californica- The Bush Aemone is a delightful evergreen Cal native with dark green leaves year round and white fragrance flowers from spring to summer.
10. Clytostoma calystegiodes- This wonderful evergreen climbing vine has trumpet shaped violet flowers with purple veins that bloom from late spring to summer.The best feature is that old growth by the trunk will still continue to produce leaves and flowers, making it a favorite for trellises and arbors.

I just finished a design project for a couple looking for a bird garden in their Menlo Park backyard. As more birds are being displaced through urban development (lack of trees for nesting and fruit-bearing shrubs for food sources) it is more important than ever to remember the birds when beginning a landscape design project.

Here is a useful article that I found written by Arvind Kumar, educator, native plant expert and California Native Plant Society board member.

Birds make a garden come alive. They are a source of endless entertainment, dashing, fluttering, feeding, jumping, scratching, drinking, bathing, and eventually flying off. These foraging creatures are independent spirits, wild at heart, but if you provide what they need food, water, shelter, and nesting spaces they will return to your urban garden again and again.

Bird feeders provide instant gratification to bird and human alike, but they require regular cleaning and refilling, not to mention cleaning of the mess below. A complementary and sustainable approach is to plant shrubs with berries that our feathered friends find irresistible. Here is a short list of shrubs to increase the carrying capacity of your garden naturally:

Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana, pictured). I call this plant an avian cafeteria for the sheer variety and quantity of songbirds that visit it in July-August to snack on the pale blue berries. (Yes, the berries are edible by humans, too.) By nature a large shrub, this fast-growing deciduous plant can be easily pruned and shaped as a multi-trunked tree to 20.

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). An evergreen shrub to 8 that produces brilliant red berries in November-December. Flocks of cedar waxwings and other birds gorge on the berries until they disappear. Attractive in flower as well as fruit, this native, non-invasive alternative to firethorn or cotoneaster is a must for bird-friendly gardens.

Holly-leaved Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia). A lush green densely branched versatile shrub that can be trained as a hedge or allowed to grow to a 20 tree. Flowers attract insects (therefore birds) in spring; fruit attracts birds in late summer/fall. Slow growing, drought tolerant.

Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica). A handsome shrub with dark green foliage and stems that mature from mahogany to brown. Looks good year round. Tiny flowers attract hummingbirds and native bees in spring. Berries go from green to red to chocolate in fall, and are consumed eagerly by birds.

Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium). The state shrub of our neighboring state thrives in part shade. Shiny green leaves and yellow flower clusters adorn it in spring. By fall, the flowers have turned into purple berries that the birds love. Cold weather infuses red color to leaves.

In addition to food, birds need a steady source of water, especially during the dry, hot summer months. Include a water feature in the garden: it may be a simple fountain or a more elaborate stream or pond, or something as basic as a bird bath that is cleaned and refilled, often several times a day in very hot weather. If you provide it, they will find it.

Shelter is a critical component of bird habitat. Densely branching shrubs thwart larger predators and provide safe haven to small birds. Shrubs that provide food as well as shelter do double duty, and are preferred choices.

Each species has its own unique nesting requirements, and it is best to include trees and shrubs of varying sizes in the garden to provide a diversity of options for nesting sites.

Lastly, if you are concerned about wild birds and their safety with your cat around, please consider a wonderful (but funny looking) option called the Cat Bib.

The increasing number of dog owners who wish to have gardens that suit dogs as well as humans, accounts for a new movement called Petscaping.

To have a successful dog-friendly space that you will enjoy, too, consider your dog’s behavior along with your personal needs and garden desires. Does your dog act out the callings of his breed by being a herder, hunter, patroller, digger, retriever or lounger? Observe these important characteristics over several days, even weeks.  Dogs are creatures of habit and prefer to patrol the same paths, enjoy the same sunny spots and deposit their waste in nearly the same areas each day.

When designing your yard for the herding or patrolling dogs, pay attention to the paths and plantings around the fence line since well-traveled paths will show wear if left bare. Instead, mulch heavily along their paths and plant shrubs and trees several feet away from fences keeping them pruned up from the ground to allow him damage-free access.  To the spaces under the shrubs, create a natural lounging spot by adding a thick layer of soft wood-chip mulch. Avoid cocoa and coir/coconut husk mulch which can be toxic or harmful if ingested.

Digging can be the most destructive behavior, especially to young plants; fortunately you have choices to consider. Some dogs dig to cool down, others to make escape tunnels. Many dig simply because they’re bored. Give her a digging pit to encourage her habit and relieve her boredom. Train her to dig only in her dedicated area by planting dog goodies like a Kong toy stuffed with pungent treats. Burry treats at incremental levels for her to uncover and be sure to repeat often.  Another idea that is fun for pets and their companions is to attend a doggie training or agility class. These types of programs keep your dog mentally focused and engaged in positive behaviors which you can encourage at home, helping to curb less than ideal habits.

In areas that you want to discourage and conceal digging, plant a fast growing vine that can be trained as a groundcover, like Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides. But if you have an “escape artist” digger, you may wish to install a low concrete barrier under your fences. As an additional precaution, especially if you live on a busy street, consider a double entry system with auto-closers at the outer gate. In case one gate is left open, the other acts as a fail-safe. The enclosed area can double as a utility area, dog bathing station or even a temporary dog run. Once you have your dog’s habits noted on your landscape base plan, you can begin to plug in their basic needs. Always consider safety, sufficient shade, dry shelter, clean drinking water, adequate fencing, and a good potty and exercise area.

Safety is key to any people or pet space. Prudent plant choices in your landscape mean avoiding thorny, spiny, sappy and toxic plants. Small dog breeds and puppies are especially sensitive to toxins because of their limited body size. For an extensive list of toxic plants visit the ASPCA’s website at www.aspca.org

Many people think a large lawn ensures dog exercise space. While most dogs enjoy a good run at the park, that is no reason for you to turn your backyard into one. As a water-wise alternative to traditional turf, consider a soft hardscape like decomposed granite or smooth gravel. Pea gravel with ample base rock underneath also makes for a great potty area. If you still crave the greenery of grass, consider a no-mow lawn that can be created with bunch grass like California Meadow Sedge, Carex pansa, which stands up to heavy paw traffic. Regardless of your choice, never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. If you do use an organic method, rinse down the area immediately after application to allow soak-in time, before the pet uses the area.

Lastly, consider what special requirements may develop as your dog ages. If your dog’s breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia, think about the future need for smooth, level walking surfaces and wide corners for dog wheelchairs.

Now that you have considered your pet’s needs, what are you looking for in a garden? Will you entertain, grow edibles, read, or play ball with children? In other words, make another list of all the desired human activities.

There’s always a way to marry the needs of humans and dogs. For example, if you want to grow edibles, think about a raised planter bed that will be out of sight and at a height away from leg lifters and dogs that mark.  Petscaping is all about coexistence instead of forfeiting an attractive garden. When in doubt, hire a professional landscape designer. We can help creatively find solutions to balance everyone’s needs.

Julie Orr is a member of Association of Professional Landscape Designers, specializing in pet-friendly, water-wise, low maintenance gardens. Julie grew up with a petscape full of dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, chickens and a tortoise. www.julieorrdesign.com