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Years on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour:
(925) 681-2968
http://www.markhamarboretum.org
Hours: Every Tuesday (weather permitting) 9:00-12:00, and select Saturdays from Spring to Fall. For a list of Markham’s Saturday sales, visit http://markhamarboretum.org/page18.html#SaturdaySales
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour Special! Shop during the Tour’s Native Plant Extravaganza, when Markham will be open from 10:00 – 5:00 on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, 2018.
Saturday, May 5
Music in the Garden
11:30-1:30 Mike Thelen will play acoustic guitar and sing songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Talks in the Nursery Saturday, May 5, 2018 11:00-12:00 “Native Plants as Problem Solvers” by Patrice Hanlon and Arti Kirch
Patrice and Arti will present native plants that can thrive even amidst some of the most common landscaping problems, such as clay soils, lack of water, foot traffic, and more. You will also learn how Native Californians used the plants for practical, therapeutic and healing purposes. Patrice Hanlon is an East Bay Times garden columnist, horticultural therapist, and garden designer. Arti Kirch is Markham board member emerita, and a Mt. Diablo and East Bay Regional Parks docent.
Come early for the best selection of native forbs, ornamental grasses, shrubs, perennials and annuals. The Arboretum has plants to satisfy the beginning gardener, as well as unusual plants to delight the plant collector. Wander among our garden beds, or ask any of our staff, who have many decade’s worth of detailed knowledge about local conditions and plants to assist you in making your selections.
Markham Arboretum’s Mission The Arboretum partners with the City of Concord and other agencies and organizations to promote the use and enjoyment of Markham Nature Park and Arboretum as a unique destination for the display and preservation of trees and other plants adapted to the inland, maritime influenced, Northern California region. The Gardens and Park comprise 16 acres and the International Gardens themselves date back to the 1980’s. Plant sales in the spring, summer, and fall are the main fund raising opportunities for Markham Regional Arboretum Society. The proceeds of the plant sales help to buy the supplies and plants necessary to develop and maintain the International Garden and other projects at Markham Nature Park and Arboretum.
Some special natives the Arboretum is growing right now:
Arctostaphylos, various species (manzanitas)
Chlorogalum angustifolium (soap plant)
Dendromecon hartfordii
Channel Islands tree poppy
Dudleya, various species
Eriogonum grande rubescens, and E. arborescens, giganteum, and nudum (red, Santa Cruz Island, giant, and naked buckwheats)
Fremontia californica (flannel bush)
Ribes malvaceum ‘Dancing Tassels’ (pink flowering currant)
Driving Directions from Walnut Creek: Take Hwy 680 North to the Treat Blvd. exit. Travel East on Treat Blvd. until you reach Cowell Road. Turn left. Go a few blocks and turn right on Babel Lane. Take the first right on Palmwood Drive. When you reach La Vista turn right and go straight ahead to the parking lot. To reach the Nursery where the plant sale takes place, take the paved path on the far right end of the parking lot until you reach the main Markham gates. (There is also additional parking on the grassy meadow along that path.)
Parking is free.
Wheelchair Access? No
