In 2005, the Waterwise Demonstration Garden was installed alongside the Interpretive Center, replacing the previous patch of weeds and bare dirt. Local landscape architect, Guy Stivers, designed the plan for a combined mosaic of various types of gardens. Construction of pathways, water and electrical installation, and plantings were funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Water District. The goal was to show how native and drought-tolerant plants from our local landscape could also be used to create beautiful home gardens that attract pollinators. The garden is ADA accessible, and paved with water-permeable decomposed granite.
The Butterfly Garden is planted with California buckwheat, ceanothus, narrow leaf milkweed, California brittlebush, Cleveland sage, sticky monkeyflower, and coyote mint to attract butterflies such as monarchs, gulf fritillaries, mourning cloaks, skippers, swallowtails and many more. Learn more by reading Items You Need for a Thriving Butterfly Garden, Scout Project by Demi and Kayla
The Hummingbird Garden is planted under a western sycamore tree with hummingbird sage, island alum root, bladderpod, western redbud, beach strawberry, and western columbine. It provides nectar to attract Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds, and a shady spot to relax in the summer. Learn more by reading Hummingbird Introduction by Kristen Chun
In the Riparian Garden, a circulating stream was installed with help from Aquascape Inc, Hoxie Construction, and Ewing Irrigation. The stream provides a freshwater environment for songbirds, mammals, dragonflies, hummingbirds and even hawks! The stream is surrounded by sedge, yerba mansa, toyon, common yarrow, common rush, spiny rush, and hedge nettle.
The Waterwise Garden illustrates drought-tolerant plants suitable for a home garden. A garden swale, which acts as a small, dry, creekbed to catch excess rainwater, can be seen in front of our manzanita, among yerba buena, bladderpod, and Douglas iris. This part of the garden also features plants from our original landscaping that are native to the southwest and Mexico, such as the Baja fairy duster, Damianita daisy, red sage, royal purple autumn sage, Lemmon's marigold, and electric blue sage. Blue eyed grass, California poppies, and California fuschia around the edges can be found blooming from spring to summer.
The Coastal Sage Scrub Garden contains sun-loving plants like white sage, matilija poppy, sticky monkeyflower, California sagebrush, coyote brush, desert wishbone, and California buckwheat. These plants will grow happily in your garden or on a dry hiking trail.
The Hillside Garden is our newest garden, created by one of our groundskeepers in 2022. It features ceanothus, Douglas mugwort, deergrass, deerweed, western goldenrod, western false indigo, and Catalina perfume. Eucalyptus stumps connect the Demonstration Gardens to the bottom trail. If you walk on the bottom trail, avoid touching the native stinging nettle that grows at the edge!
