Growing Cabrillo: Native Plant Gardens & Restoration

Project funded by CNMF members and donors

Cabrillo National Monument (CABR) greenhouse program is volunteer-led and critical to revegetation of social trails which damage the quality of the natural resources at the park and by nature of their use are almost always very visible to visitors. More than 2,000 native plants are grown, many used to re-establish native plant communities around the park and to beautify the CABR visitor center. Growing native plants from Pt. Loma stock is critical as the genetics of these plants are uniquely adapted to our coastal environment.

Bringing in plants from outside growers brings in unknown genetic characters along with potential invasive seeds and insects. Furthermore, it is highly cost efficient to grow these plants in-house. The comparable cost of purchasing 2,000 plants from a local nursery is more than $20,000.

Occupying only 2% of the earth’s surface, our rare Mediterranean-climate ecosystem can use all the help it can get when it comes to surviving habitat encroachment and climate change! Funding for this project will go to our efforts in the greenhouse; where we help grow and nurture baby plants before placing them in the park, to give them the very best chance of survival!

 

Greenhouse Tour Article by Peggy Junker

 

 

Learn more about supporting projects such as the greenhouse and other critical Park programs and projects. Become a member and receive invitations to Member-only events such as the Greenhouse Tour.