An Award Winning Wildlife Corridor

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Water-Wise Beauty: A Front-to-Back Garden Transformation

This garden tells a story of collaboration, conservation, and creativity. From practical drainage solutions to a rare shared urban wildlife preserve.

Front Yard: From Runoff to Resource

The front yard’s transformation started with a problem: rainwater was pooling at the home’s foundation, threatening structural integrity. The solution was to reroute runoff from two rain gutters, capturing nearly three-quarters of the roof area (approximately 6,160 gallons of water each year), into two interconnected bioswales. These shallow, vegetated channels are designed to slow, spread, and sink stormwater back into the earth where it belongs, instead of draining out to the ocean.

But functionality didn’t come at the expense of beauty. A flat-rock bird and insect fountain was added to create a sense of calm and invitation. A new path to the side yard guides the eye and the feet through the space, while three young trees were planted to offer shade, habitat, and seasonal interest.

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Middle Yard: For Growing and Gathering

Here, the design balances productivity with community. A low rock wall with built-in seating welcomes casual conversations or quiet reflection. A decomposed granite path leads to raised garden beds, tucked beneath the dappled shade of two moringa trees. These fast-growing, nutrient-rich trees are ideal for urban food forests. An on-site compost bin turns kitchen scraps and garden trimmings into living soil, feeding the next generation of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Can you spot the special guest?

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Backyard: A Rare Urban Preserve

Perhaps the most remarkable element of this garden lies beyond the property line. The backyard now forms part of a one-acre shared wildlife preserve, made possible by an agreement between three neighbors who removed the fences dividing their properties.

Creating a welcome, safe space for deer, bears, coyotes, birds, bobcats and more! Together, the three neighbors care for 52 mature avocado trees and have planted over 300 native plants and trees, transforming fragmented yards into a continuous habitat corridor for birds, insects, and other wildlife. To support long-term canopy development, biodiversity, and climate resilience, 11 additional trees were planted in the backyard.

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