The Coastkeeper Garden’s Master Plan embodies the spirit of resource protection, in its selection of native and California Friendly ® plants and in its value as an educational venue.

Click this image to view or download a pdf of the master plan

Master Plan Goals:

• Create a signature public garden
• Encourage a market transformation to water efficient landscaping
• Provide a venue for new conservation technologies and ideas
• Uphold the historic legacy of the City of Orange
• Support the activities of local environmental education programs
• Expand existing efforts at sustainable watershed management

The Plants

The overall plant palette will include a California Friendly ® mix of native plants and Mediterranean drought tolerant vegetation. The Master Plan features:

• Six vignettes, or garden rooms, modeled after traditional garden architectural styles popular in southern California: Spanish Revival, California Bungalow/Craftsman, Italian/Tuscan, Ranch, Traditional (English, French, Colonial) and California Native Garden. These vignettes are intended to showcase California Friendly ® vegetation in a way that complements the adjacent native plant habitat’s colors and textures.
• Six native southern California habitats: Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Desert Scrub, Grassland, Riparian and Southern Oak Woodland. The local plant community, Coastal Sage Scrub, will be the springboard for interpretive areas illustrating the “best of the best,” plants that are particularly well-suited for use in home landscapes, streetscapes, and parks in this climate.  Below is a sample list of plants we expect to incorporate into the Landscape Plan:

The Educational Stations

Ten to twelve small, educational stations will be placed within the native habitats that make up Coastkeeper Garden. Each station will display California Friendly ® concepts in a way that emphasizes a specific learning objective. Extensive interpretive signing will provide visitors with details on how they can utilize the displayed technologies to protect our water resources and our coastal environment. The educational topics that will be incorporated into the stations are:

• Drought Tolerant Landscaping
  • How to use native plants in home landscaping
  • The concept of practical turf
  • Patio container gardens
  • Water efficient irrigation
• Watershed Education
  • Understanding Orange County’s watersheds
  • Protecting our future water supply
  • Reducing urban runoff
  • Energy resources-connecting water and electricity
• Our Natural History:
  • Learning about our native habitats
  • A historical look at Orange County land use
  • Attracting native birds and butterflies to your backyard
  • Re-creating our native habitats in public space
• The Amphitheater:  A small natural amphitheater will be included in the Garden grounds. Simple benches and shade cover will provide a venue for educational activities of all types. The site will be sized to accommodate the average class size, making this an inviting facility to local primary and secondary schools. Public speaking events, such as product knowledge demonstrations and nature programs will be held on weekends for Garden visitors.
• The Greenhouse: A demonstration greenhouse will provide community volunteers a place to share ideas and contribute their knowledge to the Garden project. Designed as a non-permanent structure, the greenhouse will house plant stock, seedlings, and individual volunteer projects. This ambient greenhouse will provide a location for growing Garden replacement plants that mimics their natural conditions.