Notes from Underground

January 1, 2005 •  by

It is often the smallest things that get overlooked, and life in the soil is probably the most neglected habitat of all. Tilling the soil or weeding the garden puts us in touch with a few members of the soil … Read more

Getting Grounded

January 1, 2005 •  by

Long, long ago, in a time before time, the place where we now live was a deep sea. Beneath the waters, however, the earth stirred. A coast range was lifted up. Rains fell upon the bare slopes. Rivers and streams … Read more

Garden Stories

January 1, 2005 •  by

The old saw about weather in San Francisco—if you don’t like it, walk a block—could also be applied to Bay Area soils. Nonconformity in Bay Area rocks, along with varied topography, climate, and vegetation, has resulted in a great variety … Read more

Starting with the Oaks

January 1, 2003 •  by

A winding path through Kathy Welch’s garden leads to an oak grove. Photo by Saxon Holt. Kathy Welch had already begun to consider renovating her yard in the Oakland hills when she made a few discoveries. “I found a trillium … Read more

Starting a Wildlife Habitat Garden

January 1, 2003 •  by

It’s really not that hard to transform your garden into a welcoming habitat for native wildlife. But you do need to know where to start. Here are a few steps to help you begin: 1. Start small. Working in a … Read more

Native Plant Gardening Resources

January 1, 2003 •  by

NURSERIES, SEED SUPPLIERS, PLANT SALES, AND BOTANIC GARDENS Bay Natives 375 Alabama St. #440 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 287-6755 http://www.baynatives.com Berkeley Horticultural Nursery 1310 McGee Ave. Berkeley, CA 94703 (510)526-4704 Stock includes California natives among other types of plants. … Read more

Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants

January 1, 2003 •  by

Not long ago, the Bay Area was home to wild creatures in numbers beyond reckoning. While we can’t undo generations of intensive human settlement, there’s a surprising amount of potential habitat for wildlife in the spaces in our own yards. By growing native plants, we can invite the wild back into our daily lives.

Drawing with a Local Palette

January 1, 2003 •  by

If not for an unassuming wire fence, you might mistake Judith Larner Lowry’s garden for one of nature’s own. The tall wooden gate resists slightly, then yields, permitting the visitor to step into a quiet community of coastal scrub. Undulating … Read more

Creating a Creekside Haven

January 1, 2003 •  by

When she gets out of the shower in the morning, Sue LaTourrette might find herself standing 10 feet from a great egret. “We live on a creek,” she says, “so we were used to wildlife. But we never had herons … Read more