WE BELIEVE that each California native garden serves as an island for biodiversity - a landing place for birds, bees, and butterflies.  Link enough of these islands and a corridor that supports pollinators throughout the urban landscape is created.

How do we do this?

• Create California native plant and Resilient Demonstration Gardens all over California
• Design private and public landscapes
• Provide open days, tours, and workdays
• Help developers, municipalities, urban planners, and beyond understand the impact these gardens can have on life (biodiversity)
• We educate, empowering everyone to create their own habitat garden with workshops and partnerships

Next:

• Map the square footage of our landscapes
• Create a public map of habitat gardens to visit in Sonoma and Marin Counties
• Observe who is coming to these landscapes using iNaturalist and other tools

 

Executive Director Update - August 7, 2026

Greetings!

What Does Turf Offer in Terms of Biodiversity and Habitat?

Answer: nothing.

Turf is an East Coast landscape aesthetic — think summer rain — that was brought west by folks moving west  as subdivisions went up in California during 1950s and '60s. It's remarkable how long this high-maintenance, out-of-season style has held on. Anyone who has tended a lawn knows how much water, fertilizer, and effort it takes to produce that lush, perfectly uniform green lawn that matches your neighbor's. I just don't think that's what many of us want anymore.

We are Californians — bold westerners, individuals. Why not express that through our gardens? When I tell people how to find my house in the neighborhood, I say, "Look for the house full of wildflowers and wildness."

Don't get me wrong — a California native landscape doesn't need to look wild at all think boulders and the strong forms of shrubs, set off by of California fuchsia, salvia, buckwheat, and manzanita. Full disclosure: I design gardens for a living — maintenance, not so much. Which is exactly why I love native plants. Once established, they largely take care of themselves, and do it far better than any lawn ever could. It makes you think differently about what "beautiful" means. I'm not a traditionalist — and I know the birds like my garden more!

So where do we start? Re-wilding is having a moment on the East Coast right now. Let's not wait for that trend to slowly make its way to California — we should be leading it. A native landscape can even work within HOA communities managed by professional landscaping crews, but it takes intention. Here's what that looks like in practice:

• Add structure. Boulders or a low fence give the garden a clear sense of boundary and design.

• Choose evergreen shrubs to anchor the landscape year-round — especially important in late summer, when many plants are meant to brown out and set seed for the birds.

• Simplify your plant palette. Use generous masses of a few key species rather than many different plants. Lean toward heavy hitter pollinator plants: aster, buckwheat, and California fuchsia.

• Use signage. The California Native Plant Society's "Native Plants Live Here" signs are inexpensive and easy to order online. They're also a wonderful conversation starter with neighbors who are curious — or skeptical.

And speaking of HOAs — AB 1572 — is already phasing out non-functional turf in 2027 for all of you! Non-functional is that narrow strip of lawn the irrigation head oversprays into the street, that the landscaping crew mows weekly at significant cost to property owners. Let's start re-wilding those strips now with drought-tolerant, habitat-friendly California native plants. It's an achievable, beautiful place to begin.

The Habitat Corridor Project is actively developing services for exactly these kinds of spaces. We love working with HOA garden clubs and communities, helping them discover how stunning a native landscape can be — and how meaningful it is to create a neighborhood thriving with birds, pollinators, and butterflies. We're also well practiced at fielding the tough questions: too messy, looks dead, what happened to the lawn? We've heard them all, and we have good answers. 

Reach out if you need some support or have thoughts.

 

April

April@habitatcorridorproject.org

More Info and Links about this ban:

AB 1572, signed in 2023, prohibits using potable water on non-functional (decorative) turf. The ban rolls out in phases:

 

January 1, 2027 — State and local government properties

January 1, 2028 — Commercial, industrial, and institutional properties

January 1, 2029 — HOA common areas

 

Note: This law does not apply to individual residential properties — but that doesn't mean homeowners are left out of the opportunity.

 

Right now, rebates for removing turf are generous across California. And if you're in the North Bay, your local programs are some of the best in the state:

 

Marin County — Marin Water's Cash for Grass program offers up to $4.68 per square foot when you use sheet mulching, plant California natives, and add a rain garden. That's up to $4,680 back on a 1,000 sq ft project.

 

Sonoma County — Cash for Grass rebates are available through Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Healdsburg, Valley of the Moon Water District, and California American Water (Larkfield). Check your local provider for current amounts.

We want to help - email for more information.

 

Events Coming Up:

Join Us: Occidental Community Center Kickoff Workday

Saturday August 15

april@habitatcorridorproject.org for more information! Let me know if you are coming!