The reality of climate change has led the City of Piedmont and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation to collaborate on a major shift in plantings throughout the city to drought-tolerant California native plants. This replaces the water-thirsty non-native plants that have more traditionally been grown in Piedmont. The hope is that residents will see the options available to them to make the same shift in their own gardens. Several recent projects in public spaces illustrate that plants don’t have to drink copious amounts of water to be beautiful. These plant choices can also help to reverse the loss of insect populations, which generate the life support that keeps us, and all other living things, alive. The new Piedmont Aquatic Center dramatically illustrates this shift in plant choices.
Photos below by Julie Reichle
Plantings at the front entry have grown rapidly since January 
An existing Coast live oak on the hillside was preserved during pool construction
Plants are a major visual centerpiece of the new pool complex. The design by SWA Landscape Architects features drought-tolerant California native plants that support biodiversity by providing sustenance for pollinators, other beneficial insects, and birds. The existing large Coast live oak has been carefully preserved and another has been planted near the pool entrance. The wonderful fragrance of Winnifred Gilman sage surrounds the entrance path and the planting areas are filled with Howard McMinn manzanita and the lower-growing Pacific Mist manzanita. The hedge along the Magnolia Avenue side is another very valuable wildlife supporter, the Holly-leaved cherry.
A completely donor-funded organization, PBF made an early contribution to help kickstart the campaign in the amount of $25,000 and ultimately provided a total gift of $236,000.
Donations to support the work of PBF can be made by mail to City Hall, 120 Vista Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611, or on the PBF website.