A garden for butterflies
Kris and Dave Ethington of San Clemente are the grand prize winners of Orange County’s 2018 California Friendly Garden Contest. A small koi pond with recirculating water highlights their rear patio deck made of oiled wood.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)The Ethingtons’ front yard is all abloom. They replaced the lawn and an ivy/juniper bank at their San Clemente home with all California native plants.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)Rain gutters direct moisture to underground dry wells dug 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep, filled with permeable landscaping fabric and rocks.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)Dave and Kris Ethington like do-it-yourself projects, but recommend calling in professional help with certain tasks.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)The Ethingtons’ backyard was overrun with ivy and juniper. It is now neatly landscaped with California native plants.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)The family loves butterflies, and butterflies love what they planted: buckwheats, salvias and milkweed, to name a few.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)A water plant grows out of a koi pond at the edge of the Ethingtons’ deck made of oiled wood.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)Kris and Dave Ethington have a stunning view of San Clemente and the Pacific Ocean from their backyard.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)There are blooms all year-round at the Ethingtons’ San Clemente home, thanks to an all-California native landscaping.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)A sign nestled in the drought-resistant foliage points to the Ethingtons’ pride in their reconfigured yard.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)