About the Designer

Ecology is very important to me.   And after earning a degree in fine art painting, and successfully selling work, I felt there was something more I should be doing with that talent.  A painting affects a few.  A garden affects many.  I did not trade in the paint pallet for the plant pallet. However, gardens are my favorite medium! 

Each new project, brings together the client’s needs, wishes and style; the constraints of each site, and the potential of making the space more functional and more beautiful. By using a low impact approach, aware that our actions affect everything downstream, we can improve the health of that piece of land.  Give me a canvas of dirt and a living medium of plants; I’ll give you a healthy garden, full of wildlife activity, to rejuvenate you. 

Christine Wiseman

The demonstration garden planted in spring and summer of 2010.  We planted 22 fruit trees, bushes and vines, (39 when including the multi-buds like the 4 in one apple and 3 in one pear) to name a few.

Our native plant and fruit tree/plant list CLICK HERE 

Credentials and associations:

• California State University at San Bernardino: Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art
  

• Cabrillo College,  Aptos, California: Envorionmental Horticulture
  

• Merritt College, Oakland, California: Landscape Horticultre
  

Member of:

• Association for Professional Landscape Design

• California Native Plant Society

• National Wildlife Federation

About Habitat Gardens

As one who is passionate about both ecology and art, I continually find myself in awe of natures’ elegant design.  What could be more simple than following a model that has worked for eons?  The San Francisco Bay area, because of the coastal influence and the rugged terrain, includes many micro climates and numerous plant communities.  The plants in these communities are adapted to  local conditions, such as exposure to wind or sun, moisture from fog or sea spray, terrain, elevation and soil type. 

We share our Mediterranean climate with four other regions around the world.  Many of the plants from these regions also do very well here, with our mild winters and summer drought, and can be worked into our plant pallet.  Plant communities share many similar cultural needs and they have something else working to their advantage.  They share mycorrhiza, which creates a symbiotic relationship between the soil, nutrients and the plants within each of those communities.  This maximizes the plants uptake of nutrients. 

When we understand the conditions we are working with and base garden designs on these plant communities, we increase the health of the garden and the likelihood of its success, with the added bonus of plants that naturally look great together.  I base much of my design on the principles of this collaboration and also enjoy adding  artistic expression and perhaps some of your favorite plants to the scheme. 

What makes us sustainable?

• careful selection of plants adapted to climate and soil
  

• Water wise gardening
  

• Integrated Pest Management
  

• Organic fertilizers and pest control
  

• Local resources
  

• Reuse and repurpose of materials on-sight      and the use of salvaged materials
  

Water Wise Gardening:

Using plants adapted to our climate means they do well with what natural rainfall we get.  We can help them along and extend bloom time with water saving irrigation systems.  This also keeps them from getting that rangy look so often associated with “drought tolerant and native gardens.”

Do you have to give up your lawn? To water a lawn 40’x20’ with 1 inch of water requires 498 gallons each time you water.  Simply reducing the size of a lawn can make a big difference. This can be done by increasing plant beds around the lawn, using low water plants, and considering permeable hard-scape.  Another option for keeping that patch of green and increasing bio-diversity, is to have native meadow.  A splash of color from annual flowers will be a popular place for butterflies and birds to visit.   You can also install a Carex lawn, which requires less water and mowing only once or twice a year, if at all.

Native meadow at Yerba Buena Nursery

Carex lawn with Calamagrostis foliosa

behind.  Bay Natives Nursery

We use Dr. Earth products

Many Manzanitas bloom in mid to late winter, providing an important source of food for hummingbirds and other animals.