Projects of the Berkeley Garden Club

The principal project that has been undertaken by the Club is the Civic Beautification Project. This is administered by the Civic Beautification Committee and has the official name of California Natives Garden for Butterflies and Hummingbirds. It is located in Aquatic Park in the City of Berkeley.

Since May 1, 2007, the Civic Beautification Committee has continued to improve the garden adjacent to the children's playground. Many of the children and their parents who use the playground also walk through the garden so it is a well-visited site. Signs have been installed identifying the garden's supporting agencies. Please see our page on Seasons in the Garden. Also we have some photos of the Aquatic Park Garden

A group of volunteers from the Berkeley Garden Club work every Friday from 10 a.m. until noon. Activities include planting, pruning, mulching and watering. Work is carried out in cooperation with the Berkeley Parks and Recreation Department. The city has been helpful by providing wood chips to be used as mulch.   City Staff also keeps the adjacent areas mowed.  

Funds for the purchase of plants are provided by the Club’s regular budget with additional support from Berkeley Partners for Parks. Other plants have been donated by Club members.

Plants are selected that are easy to grow, drought tolerant, and attractive to pollinators. Many of the plants are native to the area. While the garden depends on winter rains, there is a water source at the garden so that we can water during the summe if necessaary.  Some of the plants found in the garden are Douglas iris, many species of salvias, California poppies, Eriogonum (buckwheat), ceanothus, currants, gooseberries, penstemon, California fuschias, toyon, California myrtle, spirea, leptospermum, and Asclepsia (milkweeds).

The members of the Civic Beautification Committee are Rhoda Alvarez,   Betsy Cazden, Joan Embree, Alex Pierce, Sherrill Reeves, Linda Schieber, and Emily Sexton. We have also benefited from the help and advice of Mark Liolios, a community activist, who works to improve and promote Aquatic Park.