Willow Glen Resident

Community

Stone Work: A meandering dry creek and native California plants are the hallmark of the Rowell Garden in Los Gatos, one of seven that will be open to the public on Oct. 14 during the Garden Conservancy's open days program.

Natives show their colors at Garden Conservatory tour

By Mary Gottschalk

The Garden Conservatory, a national nonprofit group dedicated to preserving exceptional American gardens for the education and enjoyment of the public, is bringing its popular open days program to Silicon Valley.

Seven private gardens in the area will be open Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Many of the gardens featured across the country are traditional, lush landscapes with rolling lawns, floral beds and intriguing trees. While most places host their open days in the spring or summer, Silicon Valley's version is deliberately staged in the fall, featuring gardens landscaped with native California plants.

"This is to help people understand what the natives look like in the fall," says Alrie Middlebrook, who worked with the Garden Conservatory on selecting the gardens. One is her home garden, another is her business garden and all the rest are her designs.

Middlebrook, who has been designing gardens since 1976, has been steadily focusing her Race Street Middlebrook Gardens business toward native California plants for more than a decade.

East Coast transplants often believe spring is the time to plan and plant your garden, but Middlebrook says, "In California the most ideal time to plant is in the fall, particularly if you're doing California natives.

"There's a lot of emphasis on looking good in the spring, but a lot of native plants flower in the late summer and fall. We're trying to emphasize what's pretty about the native gardens this time of year."

The gardens are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there is a $5 charge to visit each one, except for the Middlebrook Gardens business, which is free. No reservations are needed, and the gardens will be open rain or shine.

With planning, Middlebrook says it's possible to visit all seven of the gardens. The monies collected will go to the Garden Conservancy and the California Native Garden Foundation.

For more information on The Garden Conservancy's open days and directions to each house, visit www.gardenconservancy. org/opendays. To learn more about the California Native Garden Foundation, visit www.cngf.org.

Garden sites:

Tivol Garden, 848 Brookline Drive, Sunnyvale. This restored and remodeled Eichler home is the inspiration for an Asian-themed California native garden. Privacy is provided by a mix of madrone, redwood, California bay, Santa Cruz cypress, buckeye and California blue blossom.

Middlebrook Gardens, 76 Race St., San Jose. A quarter-acre in size, the emphasis here is on California native demonstration gardens. There will be presentations throughout the day and native plants for sale.

Niemiller Gardens, 2287 Radio St., Willow Glen. The owner has combined her junking and salvage finds with plantings. This garden includes a created creek connecting a patio and an "outdoor room." A small sedge meadow is beside the creek.

Kelly-Saldinger Garden, 110 Ayer Ave., San Jose. Surrounding the outdoor kitchen and Mediterranean fountain are gardens of flowers for cutting, edibles, subtropical species and California natives.

Rowell Garden, 123 Belcrest Drive, Los Gatos. In place of lawn, a garden has been created around a meandering dry creek and a mix that includes a spring wildflower meadow, desert species, coyote bush and chaparral plants.

Gutierrez Garden, 103 Alpine Ave., Los Gatos. This is an oak woodland garden with the owner's collection of art, found objects and antiques scattered throughout.

Slatebrook, 140 Wissahickon Ave., Los Gatos. This is Middlebrook's home garden and reflects her passion for native plants. There is a living roof on the carport, a dwarf redwood and conifer collector's garden. The edible garden features rare fruit trees suitable to the local climate. s