Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Sign In
The Great House Detective

A Home With a Secret Garden

You would never suspect the lush foliage hidden behind this home.

A Home With a Secret Garden

Address: 317 West Micheltorena Street

Standing on the sidewalk in front of the charming white picket fence at 317 West Micheltorena Street, there is little indication of the lush foliage that inhabits much of the home’s backyard. The yard was bare when Grace and Woodie Wilde (pronounced WILL-dee) bought the house in the mid-1980s. Little by little, and on a tight budget, they filled the backyard with many species of plants that thrive in our climate. Sitting on a small bench amid the greenery, it’s possible to imagine you are in a tropical forest. Another small home — a former carriage house — is located at the back of the 200-foot-deep property and is accessed by an alley that extends to Castillo Street.

Credit: Betsy J. Green

The Home’s Origin