History/Journal

Section 058/Block 4269/Lot TK

View West from Trascoro Lane

View from Blake Drive across the Santa Cruz

View of water feature located
on the property along Blake Drive

On March 5, 2004 Learning Garden volunteers met for the 1st time. 
At meeting's end, participants went to the site where they used tape
to mark off vegetation to be saved when the land is cleared. 

On March 26, 2004 volunteers met and made a preliminary list of functional, activity, and demonstration areas that could or should be part of The Learning Garden. 

Volunteers left the meeting with a handout including blank site plan, the nine principals on which The Learning Garden will be based, a list of possible functional areas that could be included, some of the site factors that need to be considered when locating each functional area on the site, a list of the types of garden areas to be included as well as other components that could be part of the project. 

Nine Learning Garden Principals

1. Right plant, right place

2. Mulch

3. Fertilize appropriately

4. Water efficiently

5. Manage pest responsibly

6. Attract wildlife

7. Protect the shoreline

8. Reduce stormwater runoff

9. Recycle

Possible Functional Area Examples

1. Entry(s) & Exit(s)

2. Vistas (preserving & hiding)

3. Seating areas

4. Storage/service

5. Education area

6. Public & private spaces

7. Parking

8. Paths

9. Children's area

10. Edible garden

11. Water/pond/aquatic

12. Shoreline/coastal

13. Wildlife habitat

14. Foundation plantings

15. Shade

16. Refer also to garden types for ideas

17. Is it possible to demonstrate maintenance concepts such as fertilization, irrigation, mowing practices other than through literature and signs?

Site Factors/Considerations

1. Sun intensity and duration

2. Soil conditions

3. Rainfall

4. Air circulation

5. Temperature (maximum & minimum & daily fluctuations between the two)

6. Length of daily exposure to a particular light level

7. Soluble salts level

8. Drainage properties

9. Air movement

10. Lighting

11. Irrigation

12. Signage

13. Plant tags

14. Formal/informal

15. Circulation

16. Defining & separating spaces (hierarchy)

Possible Garden Areas

1. Bromeliads
2. Bulbs/Lilies
3. Butterfly
4. Coastal plants/salt tolerant
5. Compost area
6. Cycad
7. Edibles
8. Ferns
9. Grasses - ornamental/turf/ground covers
10. Hedge plants
11. Herbs
12. Orchids
13. Palms
14. Natives
15. Shade
16. Topiary
17. Trees - small (suitable for SGC home landscape)
18. Trees - topical fruit
19. Vines
20. Water garden/ponds
21. Wetlands
22. Wetlands
23. Wildlife Garden
24. Wild flower
25. Xeriscape/natives/drought tolerant/succulents

Other Components

1. Arbors/fences
2. Composting
3. Dock
4. Electric/lighting
5. Fertilizer
6. Grade
7. Irrigation/well
8. Mail boxes
9. Mulch
10. Parking
11. Paths/sidewalks (wheelchair)
12. Pest Control
13. Plant identification markers
14. Sculptural walls
15. Seating areas/benches
16. Signage
17. Soil conditions
18. Tiki Hut Pavilion