Douglas Daven Garden

Specialties

Our gardens specialize in using plants that are appropriate for the the Bay Area climate. These include plants native to our region of California, as well as plants from similar climates, such as parts of Australia, the Mediterranean, and South Africa. This approach allows a garden to have low water requirements, which is most important in our increasingly drought-​prone region. Even so, it is possible to create gardens that are bountiful and full of variety. We strive to build environments imbued with feelings of abundance, vitality, refuge, and joy.

We often make rock gardens, and whenever there is the opportunity, we enjoy building stone retaining walls and laying in slate, brick, or flagstone patios and paths, in a naturalistic style. Additionally, we install simple drip irrigation systems, and offer maintenance services.

We are always respectful of the client’s design parameters to ensure that they are satisfied — and maybe even thrilled — with their new garden.

History

Established in 2007.

Jim and I started by creating our own garden at home in southwest Berkeley. Then some neighbors asked for help with their gardens. Soon more neighbors were offering to pay us for our work. Most of our jobs are in the west Berkeley area, others in Oakland to El Cerrito.