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This public garden is located at the Purissima Hills Water District
in Los Altos, Hills, California. The garden was installed in late
2007. The goal of the garden is to provide an example of a simple
landscape that has year-round appeal, colorful accent plantings, and
a substitute for turf-lawn to educate residents on lawn alternatives.
The plants in the garden are drought tolerant and low maintenance.
Many are native to California. |
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One of the flowering accent groundcovers includes Convolvulus mauritanicus,
Ground Morning Glory |
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A
curved walkway leads behind the building. To the right is a dark green
lawn alternate: Fragaria chiloensis, Flowering Strawberry.
This groundcover needs water about once per week, has small white
flowers, and stays green year round. It does not require any mowing. |
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View
of the strolling garden at the side of the building. Low impact walking
paths of grey fines are the standard for the Town of Los Altos Hills.
Pictured in the perennial garden is Monardella villosa, Coyote
Mint and Achillea millefolium, White Yarrow. |
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Stormwater
from the roof is captured onsite through a series of visible cobble-lined
swales. The swales allow the water to infiltrate onsite. The soil
microorganisms and fungi naturally filter any toxins out of the water
as it percolates. Carex testecea, a small bunchgrass, is planted
as an accent. This plant aids in the filtration process and can tolerate
seasonal wet spells as well as summer dryness. |
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The
irrigation system used for all plantings is Netafim Techline CV. This
type of inline irrigation is composed of brown 1/2" diameter
tubing with buit-in emitters that are specially designed to resist
clogging and rodent damage. The tubing is spaced evenly, about 18"
apart. Long run times and low flow rates allow the soil to become
evenly moist around each plant, resulting in better plant health. |
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View
of the front of the Purissima Hills Water District. This photo was
taken about one year after planting. The groundcover strawberry is
just about filled in. A Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' is planted behind
and will provide bright blue flowers in the spring as well as privacy
for the building. |
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