Employee Garden: Jessica's Redwood Shade Garden

Story and photos by Jessica Calvillo.

When I moved into my Scotts Valley home, the shady areas under the towering redwoods were dominated by invasive veldtgrass. Through dedicated hand-weeding and strategic planting of shade-loving natives like wild ginger (Asarum caudatum), bleeding hearts (Dicentra formosa), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), and woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), the space has been transformed into an ethereal woodland oasis.

Red fescue (Festuca rubra) serves as a living mulch between stepping stones, while sword ferns (Polystichum munitum) and chain ferns (Woodwardia fimbriata) provide structure and year-round green. The garden is now a peaceful retreat that feels like a walk through the forest floor.