12 FLOURISH • FALL/WINTER 2014
of Sonoma, boasts a living roof totaling
more than 1,600 feet. Composed of grass-
es, perennials and succulents, this rooftop
garden starts at the front entrance of the
main house and then undulates under an
upper-story window. It continues over an
open air dining and kitchen space and
then transitions into a charming wisteria
arbor. On the other side of the arbor, a sec-
ond rooftop garden softens the industrial
look of a nearby solar array. Rainwater cap-
tured in a former swimming pool-turned-
cistern irrigates the entire roofing system.
At Petaluma's Ellis Creek Wastewater
Recycling facility, a 12,000 square foot
living roof demonstrates a self-sustaining
water cycle in action. The rooftop garden
itself features 12 species of succulents,
planted in sweeping fields in order to cre-
ate an impression of flowing movement. To
capture all runoff from the roof, the sys-
tem drains in ground-level bioswales and
rain gardens. The roof garden is irrigated
entirely with treated wastewater from the
facility's operations, not potable water. And
while the public cannot enter the garden
itself, they can see it from a distance and
read about it at a park adjacent to the treat-
ment facility.
"We live in a world where nature is run
over and built upon," notes Falkerson. "In-
stead of architecture overpowering nature,
living roofs invite nature to be our partner.
In this way, nature's inherent intelligence is
utilized to improve our buildings, maintain
a healthy environment and provide a way to
reconnect with nature right where we live."
For more information contact:
Martorana Family Winery
5956 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-1909
www.martoranafamilywinery.com
Tastings: Daily 11-5
SYMBIOS eco-tecture
1720 Cooper Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 824-0314
www.symbiosdesign.com
Your Community
Herb Shop
Organic Bulk Herbs • Vitamins & Supplements
Fine Teas & Spices • Organic Skincare
226 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo
415.524.8693
www.gatheringthyme.com
