Return to the Wave Garden in Point Richmond

When my friend Loree danger garden Bohl visited last weekend, we stopped by the Wave Garden in Point Richmond. Both of us had fond memories from previous visits and wanted to see how it had evolved. I’m happy to say that while it isn’t quite as shiny as it used to be, it’s still a very special place.

I’ve blogged about the Wave Garden before (in 2014, 2015, 2017). In these posts, I go into the history of this unique place, but let me summarize: The creators of the Wave Garden, Jeanne and Vern Doellstedt, bought the property adjacent to their home to prevent it from being developed and from blocking their view of San Pablo Bay, the northern extension of San Francisco Bay. They decided to turn it into a collaborative space combining concrete walls and paths, metal gates and fences, and lush yet drought-tolerant plantings that provide visual interest and color year round. Out of the goodness of their heart, they elected to open the garden to the public to enjoy. Basically, the Wave Garden is a private property open to the public.

The creative minds behind the Wave Garden are Victor Amador who did the concrete work (800 lineal feet of textured walls and paths), Robert Sharpe who designed the metal gates and fences, and Kellee Adams of dig-it landscape design who came up with the plant palette. 

I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that the Wave Garden is almost 20 years old (it was created in 2006). I’m sure some of the original plants aren’t there anymore, but the dense carpets of echeverias I remembered from my previous visit – and most of the Proteaceae – still are.

As I mentioned, the Wave Garden is open to the public, but it’s on a cul-de-sac off the beaten path, high above San Francisco Bay, so it doesn’t get much traffic. Loree and I had it all to ourselves, except for a brief interlude when two other visitors showed up. Bliss!

Furcraea foetida ’Mediopicta’ and Yucca ’Bright Star’ on the lower level of the Wave Garden

Furcraea foetida ’Mediopicta’

Yucca ’Bright Star’ 

Wildflower meadow overlooking San Francisco Bay

Aeoniums flowering (top left) and getting ready to flower

Narcissus was an unexpected sight

Yucca and smokebush

Loree hard at work

The concrete work by Victor Amador has held up beautifully over the last 20 years

Aeoniums are truly happy right near the water – who wouldn’t be

Aeoniums tucked into a triangular planter built into the concrete walls

Did I mention how well aeoniums do in this climate?

Look at the masses of red flowers...

...from Echeveria agavoides

Echeveria agavoides

Echeveria agavoides

The carpet of Echeveria elegans is what I remember from my first visit

Echeveria elegans

Echeveria elegans

Looking at the sinuous curves of the walls and steps, it’s easy to see why it’s called the Wave Garden

I’ve had no luck with Beschorneria yuccoides ‘Flamingo Glow’ in my own garden...

...but here and in other places near the Bay they seem to thrive. The flamingo pink flower stalks are spectacular.

One of my favorite features are the planters built into the retaining walls

Below is a satellite image from Google that shows the overall layout of the garden. You enter from  the bottom left:

Imagery © 2025 Airbus, Maxar Technologies. Map data © 2025 Google. 

I’ve heard rumors that the Doellstedt residence (and hence the Wave Garden) have been sold. Zillow does show that a transaction in May 2024 so it looks like there are new owners. So far, access to the Wave Garden hasn’t been blocked off. I hope this won’t change.

The house next to the Wave Garden where the owners live

If nothing else, there’s the view! Oakland Bay Bridge and downtown San Francisco as seen up the block from the Wave Garden.

PREVIOUS POSTS ON THE WAVE GARDEN

• February 2014
• May 2015
• December 2017

RELATED POSTS

• Bay Area garden extravaganza with danger garden (March 2025)

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