Bringing Back the Natives: 2025

The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is back for 2025, and celebrating its 21st Anniversary! I recently attended the two-day online portion of the event, complete with a key note speaker, presentations on fascinating topics, and online garden tours. The online program makes the event available to those who cannot attend the in-person garden tours, including those located outside the Bay Area. One of these years, I'll attend the in-person tours, but in this season of life, I love the convenience of the online version. The in-person garden tours take place the first weekend in May. 

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is back for 2025!

Ecologist Doug Tallamy hosted an FAQ session for those looking to transform their yards into ecologically valuable gardens. He answered questions about creating habitat using the questions that he receives from his lectures and email. Many of these questions also appear in his new book, How Can I Help: Saving Nature with Your Yard. Tallamy is leading a grass roots effort across the United States, to convert our yards, containers, patios, and decks to habitat in a Homegrown National Park. You can learn more on the website, and can add your backyard to the virtual wildlife park across the nation.

 

Native gardens are beautiful and exciting (online screenshot)

The online garden tours visited landscapes in San Pablo, Richmond, Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, and Walnut Creek. One presenter created a native habitat in the back yard of her rental, and described why the expense, work, and effort has been worth it, despite not owning the property. Benefits include viewing wildlife in an urban setting, relaxing in nature after a busy day, and growing a community of interested neighbors. Seasoned garden designer Lois Simonds of Gardening With Nature’s Design, provided a poetic description of her goals in a garden design.

A restoration project after three years (online screenshot)

The Skyline Gardens Restoration Project presentation was inspiring. A group of volunteers is working to do away with invasive species (such as European bunch grass) in the Oakland Hills. Invasive species have few natural enemies to combat them, and crowd out native species in the area. The three-year process involves weeding to do away with invasives, and promoting re-entry of California natives.  Volunteers donate 2-3 hours a week, and are rewarded with friendship and good snacks while they work, and a beautiful restored landscape in the end!

Sidewalk plantings provide habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and insects (online screenshot)

Aesthetic pruner, Leslie Buck, gave a demonstration of the three main cuts required to prune California native plants - thinning, heading, and tipping. For more information see her book, Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of Kyoto, part how-to and part autobiographical.

Native garden at Woodside Library (photo by Kathy Kraemer (online screenshot)

I found out more information about Assembly Bill 1572 (AB-1572), which prohibits the use of potable water for irrigation of non-functional turf. This law will be phased in starting in 2026. AB-1572 will transform the California landscape, reduce water consumption, and provide more habitat for California native flora and fauna. Not to worry - turf used for golfing, playing teams sports, and group events is retained. Rebates are available.

Native gardens provide a respite (online screenshot)

Several presentations focused on making our landscapes more firesafe, which is very timely in light of recent fires in California and Maui. The key seems to be keeping a five foot "clear zone" around the perimeter of the house. I am inspired to look at the zone around our home to see what can be improved.

Making your home firesafe (online screenshot)

Several presentations focused on the need to plant California native plants for bees and insects. Food is important, but so is shelter, and the habitat needed for reproductive cycles. When planting a garden, plan for a year-round banquet for generalist and specific feeders. California is home to about 6000 plant species from which to choose.

Bees gather together (online screenshot)

These are just a few of the highlights from the two-day online event. Check the Bringing Back the Natives website for more information about the 2025 online and in-person topics, speakers, garden tours, and resources. It is clear that Doug Tallamy has had an impact on gardeners and landscapers in the Bay Area. Many of the presenters brought up his influence on their designs and decisions, including use of keystone species and native plants. The concepts apply to gardens in any climate and location in the United States - go native!