Toward Regeneration
In this evolving biodiverse garden known as Nature Area South, a field features California native plants set amidst a diversity of plants from other Mediterranean climate areas of the world. Some of the plants are quite bizarre in appearance and allow it to masquerade as a Dr. Seuss garden at times.
Also contained in it are plants of culinary and medicinal interest as well as plants of historical value for their use by the earliest residents of the state.
Several of the state’s bunchgrasses have been planted in blocks. Besides providing a glimpse of California’s original grasslands, they add varied color, texture and motion as aesthetic elements to the space. In addition, they enhance the soils, are a source of considerable biomass and provide wildlife habitat. They are a source of seeds for birds and housing for keystone species like ground squirrels, other rodents and numerous species of reptiles.
What was once pasture land has evolved over many years. The mustard field, so dry in summer, is especially beautiful in February. It extended to Bellows Court about 40 years ago when rock placement and planting here began. In wet years the mustard plants could reach as high as 7’. Two valley oaks, the only trees on the site 40 years back, give a clue to the oak woodland that is silently and secretly emerging here.
The mustard field is associated with primarily European grasses that entered the state when grazing was introduced in the late 1700s. It stands in sharp contrast to the biodiverse garden that has displaced much of the mustard field between the street and the brush piles defining the northern boundary of this natural area.
A major goal in managing this little preserve (Nature Area South) is to enhance the habitat for wildlife and minimize the need for and expense of annual mowing. Insuring that critical habitat elements exist (food, water, shelter, cover and nesting materials for raising young) is the key here. All of the restoration elements could be “observable nature,” part of an outdoor education program with ties to classroom curricula covering multiple subjects from science and social studies to art and creative writing.
