Home Ground Habitats is located in Indian Valley, the ‘horse country’ area of Marin; large old ranchettes, open spaces, and networks of horseback and hiking trails all close by. On our nearly one acre we have gardens that are vibrantly alive and beautiful. Butterflies, bees, and birds abound, bringing the natural world to a landscape that also provides sustenance for humans. Our Education Center offers Plant Propagation Classes.
The demonstration gardens at Home Ground showcase a sustainable, organic approach to creating a truly California-friendly landscape using native plants and drought-tolerant Mediterranean species to increase the bio-diversity. Winding gravel pathways lead to hedgerows, wildflower meadows, a small fruit orchard, a vegetable garden, edible and medicinal California natives, pollinator plants, a ‘Monarch Way Station, and numerous larval host plants for other common garden butterflies. The whole property is a ‘pesticide free zone’. Our garden and nursery sells seeds and seedlings and is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 1-4PM or by appointment.
Manzanitas in Bloom Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos species) burst into beautiful bloom early each year during the rainy season. At Home Ground Habitats, our collection of manzanitas is now almost five years old, and many specimens have developed the intricate branching...
Our Harvest Season Event was a Bountiful Success! The Fall Celebration 2024 at Home Ground Habitats in October was an autumn day of celebration. Thanks to all who helped out at our Novato plant nursery and garden. We hope you enjoy our video. Day of Fall Festivities...
Registration opens in January for the upcoming WAL class series, beginning February 1st, at Marin College Series: Watershed Approach to Landscaping Winter 2025 A series of classes based on the Watershed Approach to Landscaping philosophy with the purpose of engaging...
Douglas Iris are very special to California - with flowers that are not just beautiful but also easy in garden culture, and totally deer-proof. Iris douglasiana prefer part shade and once established, need nothing but rainwater. In the wild they grow in woodlands,...
This California native shrub grows in all sorts of plant communities in our wild lands and is also a valuable shrub in a habitat garden sanctuary. Studies have shown that this plant provides resources for more than 400 species of insects! In late summer, when the...
Epilobium (Zauschernia) canum California Fuchsias are both beautiful and tough plants! There are many species and named cultivars available; all are drought tolerant, and as a spreading herbaceous perennial plant they can cover a lot of ground. These plants thrive in...
A habitat-focused landscaping resource for the North Bay
photo: NPS
Our Mission
Our mission is to be the North Bay Area’s leading habitat-focused landscaping resource. We are a nonprofit, volunteer run growing grounds and educational center, committed to engaging, promoting, and supporting sustainable, California-appropriate landscaping.
