The Salvia Garden Map

The salvia collection is divided into sections which represent the various areas in the world where the individual species are considered native.

Mediterranean Basin

This photo is of the Mediterranean Basin section of the Salvia Garden, which also includes the Canary Islands. The plant material featured here is mixed to add texture and variety, so along with Salvia argenta, S. dominica and S. desoleana, you will find another Lamiaceae Phlomis purpurea, and Rosmarinus officinalis.

Central Mexico

This photo was taken in the Central Mexico bed of the Salvia Garden. Species featured here are a group of S. thymoides in the foreground, so named to reflect their size, with the orange colored S. darcyi and the formidable S. polystachya.

South America

This photo is of the South America bed of the Salvia Garden. Species featured here are the large leafed orange flowered S. squalens which is contrasted with the spiked inflorescens of the Neomarica caerulea. Also featured in the background is the beautiful deep blue of S. guaranitica 'Costa Rica Blue'.

United States

At the southern end of the Salvia Garden is the United States collection including California. Here you will find such varieties as S. apiana, S. brandegei, S. munzii, S. clevelandii, as well as the groundcover S. 'Bee's Bliss'.

Succulent Garden

The succulent garden came from our stock plants that needed to be in the ground. We have wide assortment to view. One mound is old world succulents, while the other is new world succulents.

Rodgers' California Natives of the Central Coast Gardens

The courtyard entrance to the Community Building is dedicated in the name of the Rodgers family who were interested in promoting the use of California Natives in the landscape. This demonstration garden illustrates how attractive and drought tolerant natives can be.

California Natives in the Garden

At the south end of the Salvia Garden area, are a sampling of California Natives in the mix of Salvia spathacea and S. Aromas' such as Mimulus and Eschscholzia californica or California Poppy.

Packard/Stephens Riparian Habitat

To the right of the entrance into the Nursery Area is the future Packard/Stephens Riparian Habitat. The Landscape Construction students recently completed the observation platform overlooking the lush growth of water loving plants.

Plants of South America Southern Hemisphere

This is a new garden built around a circle paver patio and benches. Many of the plants are from South America, especially Chile.

Plants of Australia and South Africa

This garden was established to showcase plants that perform beautifly from "down under" and the small region of the cape of South Africa.

Plants of the Mediterranean Basin

There are so many plants from the Mediterranean Basin that perform well in our area. We decided to limit the number of plant species and focus on mass plantings of the classics, such as lavenders and daffodils.

Organic Farm

Our organic farm is 17,000 sqft and occupies a challenging site. Our farm sits on top of a filled in water catchement site that was compacted to allow for building a structure. The director of the program at the time, Richard Merrill, started planting cover crops and within 5 years we were able to establish a farm.