I agree. This tour is really special. Last year they had 55 gardens throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. I could only see 6 gardens, of which 3 were to die for. Not bad for a tour that is for free! I learned a whole lot about native plants suitable for home gardens. Anyway, here are the complete details: BRINGING BACK THE NATIVES GARDEN TOUR. Free! Sunday, May 7, 2006, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Register for passes and a printed guide to 64 bird- and butterfly-friendly, pesticide-free, water conserving, low maintenance gardens that contain 30% or more native plants. Native plants will be available for sale at nearly thirty gardens, and more than 60 talks will be offered throughout the day. Registration is required at www.BringingBackTheNatives.net prior to April 20. Volunteers are needed and rewarded with free, private tours of beautiful native gardens. For more information visit the website, email Kathy@KathyKramerConsulting.net or call (510) 236-9558 between 9 am and 9 pm. Here is a link that might be useful: Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour

I agree! We have attended her tour for many years and have been blessed by the folks who open up their gardens for viewing. Bring your camera! - Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour

sounds good

Thank you for the info on tea and China roses! I have a few new editions of tea and China roses... and I was thinking that in time that might work so it's great to read your confirmation. I don't have quite as much land to fill, but I still like adding a few natives, especially for beneficial insects, pollinators and harmony in the garden. The hummingbirds have claimed some of my natives as their territory. They're funny little birds to be so cute and tiny, yet so aggressive about their territory! I have found that drip irrigation allows other plants that want a different watering schedule to do well with natives. Or planting in different areas like you do Rosefolly. I tend to like what I consider to be pretty natives that go well with other flowers... but I really should add some manzanita and ceanothus too. Others will have much more knowledge than me, but the ones I notice do well near other plants in my garden that want more water (like my roses, azaleas, citrus, etc) are: Island snapdragon (seems to be a hummingbird favorite) http://calscape.org/Gambelia-speciosa-(Island-Snapdragon) Verbena De La Mina (wonderful fragrance) http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2115 Coyote Mint http://calscape.org/Monardella-sheltonii-(Coyote-Mint)?srchcr=sc5839a0366cf8c Agastache (Smell so unique and refreshing) http://calscape.org/Agastache-urticifolia-(Nettle-Leaf-Giant-Hyssop)?srchcr=sc5839a0fdec102 California Nettle (some nettle seem to be great in shady, damp spots in my yard where not a lot grows) http://calscape.org/loc-California/Nettle%20(all)?srchcr=sc5839a13de32a2 Salvia http://calscape.org/loc-California/Salvia%20(all)?srchcr=sc5839a2293675e Douglas Iris http://calscape.org/Iris-douglasiana-(Douglas'-Iris)?srchcr=sc5839a3476b9dd I'm trying purple tansy (Phacelia) this year too. Here's more about that...http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4297726/attracting-beneficial-buggers-tansy-is-just-ugly-except-this-one?n=10 Next year I want to add a few more. Probably lupine, ceanothus, manzanita and maybe a few others.