In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

• Ask a question

« Flowers & veggies mix it up in the garden | In the Garden front page | No broccoli now »

April 11, 2008

Looking for inspiration

Q: I am finally able to rid my front yard of a thirsty lawn and wanted some
ideas for plants, shrubs and flowers that are California natives, have low water
needs, are compact for a suburban front yard and may also attract
butterflies for our young son to enjoy seeing (I am hoping he'll love
gardening someday). Do you have suggestions or resource ideas?
Karen Goldstein

A: There’s nothing like visiting gardens filled with the sort of plants you love and desire for inspiration, so I suggest taking a few field trips to some stunning local gardens that are open to the public.

WPA Rock Garden: An acre or more of California natives, Mediterranean-climate plants and succulents. Paths lead you through the garden. Located in Sacramento's William Land Park across the parking lot from Fairy Tale Town.

Ruth Risdon Storer Garden/Mary Wattis Brown Native Plant Garden: Both part of the UC Davis Arboretum. The Storer Garden highlights valley-friendly plants designed to give color or interest year around and many attract birds and butterflies, while the native plant garden restricts plantings to California natives, many of them wonderful garden plants.

Water Efficient Landscape Garden: Features deer resistant, fire-safe, low maintenance, low water use perennials, shrubs, etc. 9935 Auburn Folsom Rd., Granite Bay

Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Old City Cemetery: A delightful perennial garden full of color in the heart of the Old City Cemetery. Plants chosen for their ability to stand up to our summers, provide color, attract beneficial insects, butterflies. 1000 Broadway, Sacramento.

Fair Oaks Horticulture Center: A stunning garden that integrates low-water use plants, plus a demonstration vegetable garden and home orchard. A great example of what you can create in limited space. Located at Fair Oaks Park, 8100 Temple Park Drive, Fair Oaks.

Ask a question

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 100-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.