Travis Gramberg’s house on E. 20th Street in Costa Mesa, CA will be part of the California Native Plant Society tour. The tours theme is California in my Garden. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
When Travis Gramberg moved into his new Costa Mesa home with his family, he didn’t just see the bare canvas inside to decorate; he saw an opportunity outside as well.
In pursuit of a goal to have a garden featuring just plants native to California, he “removed everything and started over.”
“The goal is 100% California native gardens can look lush, can look colorful and can be done,” said Gramberg, a landscape architect and founder of Koheid Design.
And now his garden is one of 22 that will be stops on the upcoming California Native Plant Society Garden Tour, showing just how “elegant” native plants can be in a home garden.
“I think there is a lack of desire because a lot of times people think of a drought tolerant landscape as agaves and cactus,” Gramberg said about why more people don’t plant with vegetation that is natural to the local climate and ecosystem. “It is not your only option, that is what I was trying to show with my own house.”
The Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society has roots going back decades and has been hosting the garden tour for more than 20 years. This year, the chapter is holding the California in My Garden-themed tour over two days, May 4 and 5, something it hasn’t done in years but wanted to as a way to cut down on people having to drive far distances, said chapter president Elizabeth Wallace.
May 4 will feature South County gardens, mostly located in coastal cities and Irvine, she said, and May 5 will feature a variety of gardens around north Orange County. Some private homes and some public gardens, including plant demonstration gardens created by local water districts, make up the tour stops. All are at least 50% native plants.
“There are a lot of native gardens in Orange County,” Wallace said. “It is really growing in popularity because people are learning how beautiful and easy it can be to do.”
She was inspired to plant with California natives after moving into Trabuco Canyon near Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park about 40 years ago, she said. “There is so much pristine land, I thought I should continue it in my garden.”
She joined the chapter in 2011 and its board in 2017. The group has about 650 members, she said, and does field trips, hosts speakers, is involved in conservation and does education and outreach.
“Once established, native plants require the least amount of water of any plant,” she said. “They are easy to grow, are beautiful, and they are the most important flowers, shrubs and trees a homeowner can choose to support birds, butterflies and wildlife. Native plants remind us of why we love California.”
Gramberg said his Costa Mesa garden now regularly attracts wildlife — he loves the hummingbirds and butterflies and an owl paid a visit recently.
“It is my laboratory. It is where I test plants, it is where I experiment,” he said. “I plant fall, and I plant spring. I don’t think I’ll ever be done.”
The window to register for the free garden tour is April 30; register at chapters.cnps.org/oc. Gardens will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
