Lot size: 1,500 sq. ft. garden at visitor’s center, 100% native
Garden Age: Native garden was installed in the fall of 2007.
Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour: 2
Showcase Feature
On Earth Day in 2007 volunteers and Park staffer Lucy Lawless eyed the sterile lawn and exotics growing in front of the visitor’s center; realizing that this landscape was not reflective of John Muir’s life-long passion for natural habitats, they hatched a plan to create a garden that was. In August of that year (who says government can’t move fast?!), the lawn was removed, and the transformation began. The resulting vibrant, low-maintenance garden was designed by Greg Wolford of Californica Landscapes; it is maintained by Greg, volunteers from the California Native Plant Society, and Master Gardeners.
Other Garden Attractions
• Bring your children! Children can create their own native plant guide.
• The transformed garden has been a real water savings for the park. The water-consuming lawn is gone, and the natives are watered only occasionally in the summer.
• Designer Greg Wolford of Californica Landscaping will be on hand to answer questions from 3:30 – 5:00.
• Restrooms are available!
Gardening for Wildlife
Where natives bloom, wildlife follows! Native bees, butterflies, and ladybugs are at home here. Berry-bearing trees and shrubs, such as toyon, elderberry, and manzanita, attract birds.
Garden Talk: 12:00 and 2 :00 “Tour the garden: Easy-to-grow natives that will do well in your garden” by Ranger Tad Shay. 3:30 “Tour the garden, learn about the process of designing it and it’s (short!) history” by Greg Wolford
