DEMONSTATION GARDENS

Bol Park

910 Bol Park Bike Path Palo Alto

In 2019, we worked with volunteers to extend Bol Park’s community native garden to the edge of the bike path over an area that was previously lawn. We installed a streambed that allows water to infiltrate the soil rather than funnel directly into the drain, and planted native plants like golden yarrow, buckwheat, asters, and annual wildflowers that stabilize the soil, increase infiltration, and provide habitat for local wildlife. This cooperative project with the City of Palo Alto was funded by Valley Water.

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden

1431 Waverly St. Palo Alto

In partnership with the City of Palo Alto and the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program, in 2018 we replaced non-native rose bushes and ivy with a native rain garden that will capture and sink runoff from the parking lot while providing habitat for birds and insects. Water runs through the garden from a 260-gallon tank connected to the roof of the event center. The project was funded by a grant from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Peninsula Conservation Center

3921 E. Bayshore Rd. Palo Alto

In 2017, through a grant from the Santa Clara Valley Water District and in partnership with the City of Palo Alto and the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program, we replaced non-native Indian Hawthorn shrubs with a native rain garden that will slow and sink rainwater while providing habitat for birds and insects. This site showcases a 500-gallon tank that captures rainwater off the roof and feeds it into the stone-lined garden.

McClellan Ranch Preserve

22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino

In 2016, in cooperation with the City of Cupertino and the AmeriCorps Watershed Steward Program, we created a bio-swale and rain garden that will help reduce the amount of runoff flowing into Stevens Creek from McClellan Ranch Preserve. As part of this project, we installed two wine barrels converted into a water catchment system. The combined 100 gallons will allow us to water the rain garden during the dry season.

Alma Pollinator Garden

1 Alma Street, Menlo Park

In 2015 we partnered with the City of Menlo Park to replace a lawn area with a native garden. The space also includes a small rain garden, which captures water via a slot drain installed across the walkway, allowing rainwater to soak into the ground instead of running off into the street. The garden is especially showy in the summer when buckwheats and goldenrod are in full bloom.

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve Gateway Facility

1530 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto

In the fall of 2010, we installed a garden adjacent to the facility that showcases species found throughout the preserve. This garden is designed to tolerate extreme heat, cold, drought, marauding voles, and frequent deer visits.

Portola Valley Town Center, Sausal Creek Restoration

65 Portola Road, Portola Valley

This stretch of Sausal Creek was buried underground in a pipe until the Town of Portola Valley “daylighted” it as part of the Town Center construction process. We led the efforts to re-vegetate the creek with the help of hundreds of volunteers. The site is a favorite of kids as it provides an easy way to explore the creek and its wildlife.

Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, Cottage Garden

482 University Avenue, Los Altos Hills

In partnership with GreenTown Los Altos, we installed a native demonstration garden as well as a rain barrel system that collects rainwater from the roof of the nearby cottage. Rain barrels provide additional water for the garden and dissipate the water from storms through a designed swale that meanders through the garden.