Satori Garden Design

hummingbird visiting Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage)

Let’s say you do decide to remove your lawn and replace it with a gorgeous mix of climate appropriate plants.  You will in effect be saying “hello nature, come on over.” Your garden will now be a welcome habitat to birds and beneficial insects alike.  In fact, if you plant California natives, you’ll really be helping out since 90% or more of these insects are dependent on the native plant species they have co-evolved with.  Your actions would help sustain a complex network between plants, animals, fungi and microbes that make up our native ecosystem.

Do you like scent in the garden?  Well few gardens rival the aroma of a Mediterranean garden.  Why you might ask?  Well, many of these plants give off scents in the hot mid-day sun to protect themselves from dehydration.  The oils contained in the foliage of many of the Mediterranean and natives plants allow them to perfume the air.  The Salvia species (in particular White Sage and Cleveland Sage) and Monardella species (Butterfly mint) as well as the Lavenders come to mind.  Here’s a few links to fragrant natives:  Fragrant California Natives Fragrant California Native Herbs