The garden's purpose is to demonstrate to homeowners how to create a landscape design to reduce the risk of serious damage or complete loss if a fire were to sweep through their neighborhood. Or in other words, that it is possible to have a decent garden with low water use and a lower risk of fire damage.
The first phase of the garden is an "Urban Fire Safe Garden"; this will be followed by a "Country Fire Safe Garden" as time and funding allow. Eventually a "Garden Lab" allowing for forest concerns workshops is envisioned.
The roughly 3000 square-foot Urban Garden features plants that are lower water, as well as firesafe, and contains several distinct areas: Olea Europea and Arbutus Unedo will provide canopy and shade. There is a patio garden with Teucrium cossonii, Buddleja davidii, Verbena bonariensis and several types of thyme. The Succulent garden, (which was funded and installed by the Healdsburg Garden club under the supervision of the Master Gardeners) features aloe, agave, euphoria and several sedums. The garden is hydro-zoned--that is, the plants are grouped by water needs, and the drip irrigation system is installed aboveground, so visitors can understand its assembly.
There are meandering flagstone paths, built with flags hand-dug by firefighter Doug Jones, one of the firecrew that provided the labor for garden installation. The spaces between the stones are planted with low thyme, which in time will fill in those joints.
The first phase of the garden was funded by Fire Safe Sonoma, with the Healdsburg Garden Club "adopting" the succulent garden. Master Gardeners provided the research for drought tolerant fire resistant plants, the design of the hardscape, planting, and irrigation, as well as, supervision of the installation. The firemen did the labor. A garden maintenance manual will be written for the fire crew at the barracks.
Directions: north on 101 to Lytton Springs exit; turn left under the freeway and just past the south 101 on-ramp, turn left onto the frontage road. Drive to the end of the road. If the gate is open proceed up the hill to the barracks.
Master Gardeners Alison Ogden, Betty Miller & Becky Goodsell
Disclaimer: Much information about fire resistant plants is anecdotal and has not been scientifically tested. These plants tend to have a certain typical characteristics such as: most are broad-leaf deciduous trees but some are thick-leaf evergreens, leaves tend to be supple, moist and easily crushed, shrubs are low-growing (2') with minimal dead material, taller shrubs are clean, with little dead wood, sap is water-like and typically does not have a strong odor.
For more information, see UCANR Publications 8322--Landscaping Tips to Help Defend Your Home from Wildfire and 8228--Home Landscaping for Fire.
FireSafe Garden Plant List
MODERATE WATER
Rubus Pentalobus calycinoides “Emerald Carpet”
Correa “Carmine Bells”
Buddleja davidii
Myoporum parvifolium
Thymus pulegioides “Archer’s Gold”
Thymus “Elfin”
Verbena bonariensis patagonica
Teucrium cossonii Germander and fruticans Bush Germander
Asteriscus maritimus “Gold Coin”
Alyssum “Snow Crystals”
Coreopsis “Nana”
Olive “Majestic Beauty”
Arbutus “Strawberry Tree”
MODERATE TO LITTLE WATER
Leonotis Leonorus Lion’s Tail
Atriplex lentiformis Salt Bush
Achillea “Fireland” Yarrow
Coreopsis “Flying Saucers”
Agapanthus “New Blue”
Lavender dentate candicans
Kniphofia “Torch Lily”
Penstemon heterophyllus “Blue Springs”
Armeria maritime Common Thrift
Salvia clevelandii “Alan Chicking”
Salvia “Bees Bliss”
Rosemarinus “Collingwood”
Rosemarinus “Tuscan Blue”
Santolina virens
Santolina chameacyparissus “Nana”
SUCCULENTS
Aloe brevifolia variegate
Aloe maculota
Aloe vera
Bulbine frutescens
Cereus peruvianus
Cotyledon orbiculate
Crassula
Echinopsis hybrid
Euphorbia myrsinites
Gasteria hybrid
Opuntia micodasys and “Santa Rita”
Sedum brevifolium, confusum, rupestris “Angelina,” spurium “Red Carpet,” “Autumn Joy” and telephium
“Matrona”
LITTLE TO NO SUMMER WATER
Carpenteria californica
Rhamus californica “Mound San Bruno”
Artemesia “Powis Castle”
Solanum xantii
Ceanothus glorious horizentalis “Yankee Point” and “Carmel Creeper”
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi “Emerald Carpet” Manzanita
Fremontodendrom “San Gabriel”
Phlomis fruticosa
OTHERS FOR COLOR
Dodonaea viscose Hopseed Bush
Solanum jasminoides Potato Vine
Erigeron Santa Barbara Daisy
Centranthus ruber Jupiter’s Beard
Salvia greggii “Lipstick”
Gaure lindheimeri
Salvia sonomonsis Creeping Sage
Zauschneria California Fuchsia
Eschsholzia californica
SOME PLANTS TO AVOID IN HIGH FIRE DANGER AREAS
Adenostoma fasciculatum or Greasewood chamise
Adenostoma sparsifolium or Red shanks
Artemisia californica or Sagebrush
Coyote Bush
Coprosma pumila or Prostrate coprosma
Cortderia selloana or Pampas Grass
Cupressus sangentii or Sargent Cypress
Eriogonum fasciculatum or California Buckwheat
Eucalyptus globulus or Blue gum
Fountain Grass
Junipers
Larch
Lonicera japonica or Japanese honeysuckle
Lithocarpus densiflora or Tan Oak
Palms
Pickeringia Montana or Chaparral pea
Pseudotsuga menziesii or Douglas fir
Spartium junceum or Spanish broom
Yew
Heml