Planting the New California Garden Part 3: Bernadette Balics

Articles: Planting the New California Garden Part 3: Bernadette Balics

The pollinator garden, which looks out over agricultural fields against the western horizon, features a bird shower/bath and a permeable urbanite flagstone pathway. Photo: Jennifer Jewell

This is the third in a 4-part series we’ve named Planting the New California Garden. Throughout 2017 we’ll be highlighting the work of APLD designers to illustrate practical water-use data beautifully brought to life in a finished landscape. Our Planting the New California Garden series is funded in part by a grant from the Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation.

Big Sky Garden
This garden on the edge of Davis, California has broad, west-facing views across farmland to the Vaca hills. Its design embraces the location and view. Bernadette Balics, the garden’s designer, deliberately chose low plantings to preserve the open feel. The property owners wanted to welcome birds to the garden and to be able to watch birds from their studio office, situated in the middle of the garden.

Looking back toward the house and the shaded patio. Prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha on the right receives rainwater from a neighboring roof. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design — Looking back toward the house and the shaded patio. Prairie Junegrass *Koeleria macrantha* on the right receives rainwater from a neighboring roof. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design

From a tree-shaded patio, visitors can stroll the boardwalk past lush, drought-tolerant sedges and grasses to a bird shower and pollinator garden. Or, people can pick a cherry tomato from the raised beds before walking through an informal allee of fruit trees. The back of the garden offers a bird habitat meadow filled with California native plants.

A lively meadow planted with California natives. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design

Dasyliron wheeler surround by Dorycnium hirsutum. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design — *Dasyliron wheeleri* surround by *Dorycnium hirsutum*. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design

Primary garden irrigation consists of inline drip irrigation except for the California native meadow, which is watered with rotary nozzles. Water from roof downspouts is directed to planted areas, and all hardscape material is permeable.

The boardwalk, Junegrass swale, pollinator garden, raised beds in the vegetable garden, and California native meadow in the distance. Photo: Ecological Landscape Design

To learn more about the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) database go to ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS and familiarize yourself with the user manual and begin investigating the water needs of your favorite plants in your region.

Aloe striata in spring, growing in the shelter of a chocolate persimmon tree, accompanied by Stipa giganteum, LInum lewisii, Eschscholzia californica and Dorycnium hirsutum. Photo: Jennifer Jewell — *Aloe striata* in spring, growing in the shelter of a chocolate persimmon tree,
surrounded by perennials. Photo: Jennifer Jewell

Ecological Landscape Design
Bernadette Balics founded Ecological Landscape Design based on her conviction that it is both possible and important to apply principles of ecology, sustainable agriculture, and permaculture to create healthy urban landscapes that are beautiful, functional, and personal.

Since 2001 she has completed over 250 design projects and is frequently asked to talk about California native plants, ecological landscaping, and habitat gardens. Bernadette is a member of the Sacramento Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society. She is QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) certified and a Green Gardener trained professional. www.ecologicallandscapedesign.com