A natural garden is a landscape designed to mimic local ecosystems. Instead of lawns or exotic ornamental plants, it uses native plants—species that have evolved in a particular region and are adapted to the local climate, soil, and wildlife. These plants grow in natural groupings, often with dense, layered vegetation that shades the ground, suppresses weeds, and retains moisture.

Natural gardens are fire-resistant not because they are fireproof, but because:

1. Native plants are adapted to the local fire cycle. Many California natives are built to survive wildfire and recover after it. They also tend to be low in volatile oils compared to ornamental exotics like eucalyptus or juniper, which burn more intensely.

2. These gardens hold more moisture. Native plantings with mulch and ground cover naturally retain soil moisture. A well-maintained natural garden is not dry and brittle like a neglected landscape.

3. They are designed intentionally. A natural garden includes careful spacing, plant selection, and maintenance. Dead branches are pruned, invasive weeds removed, and plants are kept healthy—not stressed or dying, which is when vegetation becomes flammable.

4. They create cool microclimates. Trees and layered vegetation provide shade and humidity, which helps lower surface temperatures and slows the spread of fire. In contrast, traditional ornamental landscapes with exposed mulch, dead lawn, or sparse plantings can act like kindling.

5. They don’t carry fire to structures. A natural garden near a home uses low-growing, widely spaced vegetation or hardscape near structures—what fire experts call a "defensible design"—not a "moat of bare dirt" that invites weeds or reflects heat back onto the building.

In short, a natural garden works with nature, not against it. It’s ecologically beneficial, beautiful, and when designed correctly, helps protect homes from wildfire better than a conventional or neglected yard ever could.