Joaquin Miller Park Native Plant Nursery
3594 Sanborn Road (behind the Woodminster Ampitheatre), Oakland
Gardening experience: 4 years at this location
Garden size: extensive nursery, 5,000 square foot grassland and coastal scrub restoration project, and 400-square-foot demonstration garden
Showcase feature: This fabulous native plant nursery contains three areas of interest. At the entrance is a compact demonstration garden featuring local natives. Inside, a spectacular array of more than 100 species of plants native to Oakland's Sausal Creek watershed is available for sale. The third feature is an extensive serpentine grassland restoration project in an area once infested with acacia and broom.
Other garden attractions:
- Ask about opportunities to join the Friends of Sausal Creek collecting seed, restoring native plant communities, and propagating native plants (or see www.SausalCreek.org).
- The serpentine grassland located just above the nursery contains native bunchgrasses, Ithuriel's spear, blue dicks, gold nuggets, and a delicate white tarweed. Natives began appear and thrive when the acacias were removed.
- The nursery is a cooperative project between the Friends of Sausal Creek (www.SausalCreek.org) and the City of Oakland.
- A small pond is rimmed with water-loving natives.
Gardening for Wildlife: The willow windbreak is a haven for birds, who find cover and nest there. In spring, birds are often seen dashing out to collect spider webs with which they line their nests.
Garden Talks: 11:00 and 2:00 "Hands-on Workshop: Learn How to Propagate (and take home!) California Native Plants"
Plants sold or given away: More than 100 species of plants native to the Sausal Creek watershed will be available for purchase. You won't want to miss this inaugural sale. (Some of us have been waiting for years for this!) The list of plants that will be on sale can be downloaded from www.SausalCreek.org/plantsale.html.
Directions: From Hwy 13 take the Joaquin Miller/Lincoln Ave. exit and go uphill 3/4 miles. Look on the median for a sign that says "Woodminster Ampitheatre" and another small sign that says "Native Plant Nursery." The road is labeled Sanborn to the left and Robinson to the right. Turn left onto Sanborn Rd and go 0.2 miles uphill. Walk past the yellow road-block sign gate across the road, following signs to the nursery. Stay left at the fork (a sign will direct you), and look for the nursery on your left. It is a pleasant 3-minute stroll to the nursery, past native oaks, madrones, and bunchgrasses.
Parking: Park in the Community Center parking lot on the left.
Gardened areas plant list: Plants in the garden, on the hillside, and around the pond