Bryan BeilkeNestled secretively between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay is a peaceful garden filled with plants from the five Mediterranean climate regions of the world.
The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, is located in El Chorro Regional Park on Highway 1, and features an ever-growing spread of plants that is planned to eventually expand to a garden of 150 acres.
“Our mission is to connect people and plants and to help people understand the importance of plants,” the garden’s administrative director Debbie Hoover said. “Without plants, we wouldn’t be able to survive.”
The two acre botanical garden allows visitors to take a self-guided tour following the many paths lined with stone. Benches are placed in different areas of the garden to give visitors a chance to relax and take in the beautiful scenery.
Plants from the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions are showcased to reflect the diversity and beauty of plant life in California, the Mediterranean basin in Europe, Central Chile, the Cape Province of South Africa and Southern and Western Australia.
The five regions featured in the garden consist of long, dry summers with little rain. They face oceans on the west, and lie north and south of the equator.
As a part of the Mediterranean theme, there is a prominently displayed solar-powered fountain shaped like a sun. Visitors are advised to cover the solar panel with their shadow or a piece of clothing to see the fountain slow down or stop. It responds quickly to sunlight and a 12-volt solar panel is connected to a small pump, which is used to pump water out of boats.
The garden also features an authentic Chumash home, which is made entirely from willow branches, most commonly from the Arroyo Willow, which can be seen in the garden. The branches are tied together with willow bark and thatched with tule reeds.
An education center, currently under construction, will be the botanical garden’s first building. It will be a model of sustainability and resource conservation including both the natural and human built environment. Most importantly, this building will be an integral part of the garden’s education program.
The first phase of the desired full-scale botanical garden will also include the construction of the “Gardens of Exploration,” which will consist of a visitor’s center and an area to hold demonstrations showing the different plants from each climate region.
Besides daily visiting hours, the garden staff offers other opportunities for all members of the community to get involved.
The botanical garden offers field trips for grade school children all the way up to the 12th grade. Field trips for elementary school children are free.
“We focus on a lot of children’s programs,” said Hoover. “We have four or five field trips geared toward the age level and the content meets the California State standards.”
Volunteer opportunities are available to propagate plants and maintain the preview garden for those who would like to help keep the garden beautiful.
While open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteer Carol Nelson-Selby says that Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest days.
The garden also hosts special events throughout the year to bring awareness to the garden. The upcoming presentation, entitled
“Gardens, Arts and the Environment,” is a 35 minute presentation in which the big vision for the garden is shared and will take place in the garden’s new straw bale, sustainable Oak Glen Pavilion, located just inside the garden. It will be held on Oct. 10 at noon and Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.