Home & Garden Columns

Pete Veilleux wrote something to the California native-plant mavens’ mailing list the other day: “It’s October! Time for squirrel stomach pie—my memere’s specialty. She called it poor man’s toot cake.” 

Before I got to ask him whether the squirrel stomachs involved were full of acorns, or how many squirrels it would take to make a pie, or even the recipe (because the Eastern fox squirrels have begun to root up my stuff again, which means it’s time for another layer of red pepper from the Korean supermarket, which in turn might make those squirrels even more interesting to eat) he’d posted something even more attention-getting to the group.  

His East Bay Wilds nursery is opening to the public.  

“We’re finally going to be opening our nursery at our new location in Castro Valley,” he wrote. “Come for the plants Stay for the inspiration.” 

You are invited to the opening celebration and sale at east bay wilds native plant nursery in Cull Canyon, Castro Valley. 

Join us on our opening day and enjoy the real beauty of Bay Area native plants in their fall glory.  

Saturday, October 21st, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., East Bay Wilds Nursery, Cull Canyon Road, Castro Valley. From 580, Oakland: Take the Crow Canyon / Center Street exit. Turn left at end of exit ramp. Turn right at first light (Crow Canyon). Turn left on Cull Canyon (at second light).  

There are small mileage markers on the right hand side of the road (white posts w/ black numbers]. Enter the open gate at mile marker 2.45. There will be a large sign. Enter gate and park just up the hill in the marked location for parking. Then follow the signs up to the nursery.  

Drive all the way up to the nursery only if you are unable to walk up and you have either 4wd or excellent traction. We will have a 4wd vehicle for transporting plants and people who need assistance up to the nursery as necessary. It’s a 10 minute walk up through a Laotian cornfield (complete w/ numerous unusual scarecrows) to get to the nursery. There are no restrooms at the nursery yet, but there are some nearby woods. 

The setting is spectacular—well worth a drive to see. We have close to 45,000 plants—most of which are for sale. We’ll be offering 15 percent off all prices on that day only. We’ll have some munchies, lots of information, and we’re offering free five-minute (more or less, depending on time constraints) consultations with naturescape designer Pete Veilleux. Bring specifics about your site including photos, scale drawings, and sketches (include polar directions and slope aspects if you can). 

Pete has landscaped more than 60 sites here in the Bay Area over the last five years. 

He’s been gardening with native plants “since I was about five years old, growing up in New England.” (That’s an Acadian squirrel stomach pie—“mostly nuts,” Pete says.)  

To see some examples, go to www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/sets/ 

The “urban conversion” site is on 56th Street west of MLK, and easy to spot among the more conventional lawns and camellia hedges on the block.  

The nursery will have regular hours next year; to visit now, email pete@eastbaywilds.com or call 409-5858 to arrange a time. 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in East Bay Home & Real Estate section. Her column on East Bay trees appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet.