California Native Garden Transformation

In this video, I partnered with SaveOurWater.com to share how I used native California plants to transform my side yard from an eroding, weedy hillside, to a beautiful, drought-tolerant garden that attracts pollinators. The video shows the process of planning the transformation, choosing water-wise native plants, planting them, and adding mulch. 18 months later after planting this garden, it is mature and blooming and attracting amazing pollinators from hummingbirds to bumblebees to butterflies!
SaveOurWater.com has brilliant resources to help you transform your own yard, save water, and create more beauty and biodiversity in our gardens.

[@pattimessenger6214]

Your garden is beautiful! Drought tolerant is the only smart option in California!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much! These plants are so happy here, drought tolerant all the way!!

[@GaiaCarney]

@FreePlantsForever - lovely garden, great info 🌿 I’m in the Upper Willamette in Oregon and going drought tolerant, too! The pollinators love it & flood the native plants with attention 🌻

[@Tullyontheterrace]

It looks so good! Wow, distributing that mulch pile must have been quite a workout!

[@FreePlantsForever]

It took a lot of wheelbarrow loads that’s for sure!! 😅

[@doreentucker8815]

Just beautiful! Would love a follow up video to see how it looks in the fall.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Definitely!! It definitely isn't as magical as the spring, but has its own kind of seasonal beauty.

[@fastgirl1125]

Great job with that tough garden spot! It is beautiful!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you so much! I love it.

[@EllenStoddard]

That's beautiful, Jessie!

[@donnabush7938]

Those are beautiful! I live in the Gulf Coast area, about an hour inland from Galveston. This video will be a huge help for my yard! Thank you so much!

[@FreePlantsForever]

So glad this could be helpful! Drought tolerant plants and plants native to your area make gardening so much easier and more economical 💚

[@vickiesorenson2383]

Ty for sharing

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@DavidPalmer707]

Looks great. Sorry if I missed it, but what is your USDA plant zone?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! I am based in Santa Barbara, CA - we're in zone 9/10 - our proximity to the coast keeps us a little cooler than other parts of So Cal.

[@alejandroalcala3146]

I don't think some of your wildflowers are true natives because their different colors from the true natives, you probably have some hybrids like the yarrows, this happens a lot when people look to grow natives.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes, there are definitely hybrids and cultivars in my garden. I try to consult with my local botanic garden, which specializes in California natives - they sell cultivars as natives as they are not considered native and are adapted to the local climate and conditions.