The Gardens at Lake Merritt » News & Events

New Neighbors Move In

Donald — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 22:20:15 +0000

If you build it they will come.

The Gardens at Lake Merritt are well-known as a showcase for a plethora of species of flora. Recently, a leaky, resource-wasting water feature– designed in a day when few questioned the constant draining, cleaning and refilling involved in maintaining decorative ponds– was transformed into a habitat for several species of fauna– dragonflies, damselflies and tree frogs.

What started as a badge project concept for Eagle Scout, Jordan Soulman, coalesced around Park Supervisor Tora Rocha’s long-held notion that the Gardens’ mid-20th Century water feature might be more efficiently maintained through the installation of a cutting-edge bio-filtration system.

The project came together quite quickly and took a virtual village to accomplish.

Among the contributing personnel and organizations:

Kathy Claypole-Biggs, (http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/dragons/bio.html) a longtime educator and one of Northern California’s leading authorities on dragonflies and damselflies, provided habitat design consultation, and educational programming guidance.
Steve Kaper, (http://www.wildrose4u.com/about.html) provided engineering expertise in the creation of the waterscape which will comprise the habitat
HandsOn Bay Area which coordinated and managed the participation volunteers from AnswerLab and Google, and both companies helped purchase materials for the habitat and supplies for its biofilter.
Andrea Hurd, award-winning ecological design-build landscaper from Mariposa Gardening Design, offered front-line design execution and advice during the Google volunteer workday.
The Insect Sciences Museum of California will ultimately design and provide signage for the habitat, as well as offer support for ongoing educational programming.

For more photos, click here.

We will be sharing more information about the ways in which the Gardens are addressing both the short-term and long-term issues presented by the current drought emergency. Stay tuned for more updates!

Alameda County Master Gardeners Workshops 2014

Danielle — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:03:11 +0000

There will be FREE Saturday Workshops in the Trials Garden this season by the Alameda County Master Gardeners and we hope you can attend. The workshops all start at noon and end at 1pm (unless otherwise indicated) and attendees are asked to please bring a portable or folding chair if possible. See the schedule below:

April 26: Gardening 101: Get Your Hands Dirty *(90 minute workshop: 12:00-1:30)

Join us at this hands-on workshop for beginning and limited-experience gardeners. You will plant seeds, transplant seedlings, work with compost and soil in preparation for planting in the ground or a container, and learn how to plan your garden space. There will be handouts on seed starting, composting, planting recommendations and more. There will be time for questions so you learn what you need to know to get off to a successful start.

Master Gardeners Sam Foushee and David Blood, co-coordinators of the Lake Merritt Trials Garden, will lead a team of experienced Master Gardeners to guide you through the basics.

May 10: Growing Great Summer Vegetables

May is a good time to get your summer vegetables into the ground. This talk will build upon what was learned in Gardening 101 last month but focusing more on what varieties work best in our climate and when and how to plant. Big spaces or small, containers or in the ground, you will learn which vegetables should provide a bountiful yield this summer.

Master Gardener Ann Naffziger has created a “food forest” in her Alameda front and back yards. She grows everything from apples and asparagus to dried beans and zucchini. She’s got bees and chickens too!

June 14: Edible Landscaping: Making it Beautiful and Delicious

Edible Landscaping is about adding attractive food crops into the design of your existing or new landscape. We will discuss herbs, edible flowers, fruit and nut trees, and vegetables that can be grown among ornamental plantings in your yard or in containers. Whether your space is large or small, shaded or in full sun, cement, a staircase, window box or fertile ground, growing edibles can immediately become part of your landscaped environment.

Master Gardeners Jennifer Cardozo, Nancy Litton and Kitty Mindel were all trained in how to create a successful edible landscape and will share what they have learned with you.

July 12: Managing Pests in your Garden Safely

Want to learn more about what is eating your vegetables? Or what virus killed your tomato plants? And where to find out more when you do have a pest problem in your yard? This is the talk for you. Dennis will help you learn how to identify your bugs and manage them in the least toxic manner. Bring leaf & bug samples!

Master Gardener Dennis Brown will help you see your way through aphids, ants, snails and slugs as you learn about common pests and diseases.

August 9: Planning and Planting a Great Winter Vegetable Garden

Why should you consider growing vegetables in the fall and winter? Learn about the benefits and the wide array of vegetables you can grow in the cooler months. Learn what you need to know to be successful.

Master Gardener Sam Foushee grows beautiful vegetables during all seasons in 2 local community gardens.

Sept. 13: Fall Gardening in the Garden: cover crops, mulching, planting and more

Tips for how to put your garden to bed for winter: cleanup, composting, feeding, planting, etc. Learn how to plant and integrate a cover crop. Both vegetable and perennial gardens benefit from these practices.

Master Gardener David Blood will share knowledge gained from years of careful winter preparation in his home garden in Oakland as well as in the community gardens he has tended.

Visit us at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

Danielle — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:41:35 +0000

The Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt will be exhibiting at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show this Wednesday, March 19th through Sunday, March 23rd at the San Mateo Event Center. We will be in Booth #1309 in the Educational Booths section of the Fiesta Hall, and would love to connect with you at the show, so please pay us a visit!

In the meantime, check out the Hot Plant Picks for 2014, the Gardens list, and the show blog which contains a wealth of behind the scenes info.

Martin Luther King Day of Service

Admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:52:20 +0000

January 20th 8:30 am – 2:30 pm

Come join us for a day of service in the gardens. Activities include: weeding, mulching and much MUCH more.

Come and join our community as we celebrate MLK in the Gardens at Lake Merritt.

Download our helpful MLKday Volunteer Flier or email us at gardensatlakemerritt@gmail.com for more information.

Snacks and Refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market.

Autumn Lights Festival Recap and Artist Awards

Danielle — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 23:22:09 +0000

Thank you to all the attendees, volunteers, sponsors, artists, and performers who supported the Gardens at Lake Merritt by coming out to the Autumn Lights Festival! The two nights of illumination and merriment were quite magical, and we are already looking forward to next year.

Stan Clark’s Space Forest of Inflatable Sacred Space Asparagus Trees

Many congratulations to the artist award winners and honorable mentions at the Autumn Lights Festival. Here is a recap of the results as tallied by Lisa at Another Bullwinkel Show:

Mayor’s Choice Winner:
Stan Clark’s “Moon Ornaments”

Mayor’s Honorable Mentions:
Insect Sciences Museum of California’s “Living Insects Painting”
Ashwin Swamy & Eric Thorne’s “Flowing & Glowing Squid”
Kim Webster’s “Blown Glass Succulents”
Andrea Hurd’s “Seed Fountain for Bees”
The Mother & Toddler’s “Carved Gourds”
Sacred Seed’s “Mudlights”

People’s Choice Awards:
First Place: Kim Webster’s “Blown Glass Succulents”
Second Place: Stan Clark’s “Moon Ornaments”
Third Place: Clive Brown’s “Venusian Love Blossom”

Below are some of our favorite images from the event…

Check out the amazing shots below by Greg Linhares then visit his website to see the rest of his Autumn Lights Festival album.

Image courtesy of: Greg Linhares www.omnisourceimages.com

Glass Artist: Kim Webster www.kwebsterglass.com
Image courtesy of: Greg Linhares www.omnisourceimages.com

Image courtesy of: Greg Linhares www.omnisourceimages.com

New Volunteer Positions at the Gardens

Danielle — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 20:36:36 +0000

We are looking for interested, qualified people to join our Volunteer Leadership Team!

The Team will consist of a Volunteer Coordinator, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator, Volunteer Ambassador and Garden Docent Coordinator. This is a great opportunity to gain training and experience with a variety of skills including environmental management, cloud computing, volunteer management, project management, public speaking, marketing, social media and more. Be a part of your local community and protect the legacy of the gem at the heart of Oakland!

Click below to learn more about these exciting opportunities and to apply!

This effort is part of a revamp of the volunteer program at the Gardens, aimed to allow Oaklanders and visitors continued enjoyment of the Gardens’ wonderous natural beauty while increasing stewardship of the Gardens by local community members. People from all communities are encouraged to apply!

The Gardens at Lake Merritt

Elise — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 04:35:28 +0000

The Green Heart of Oakland

The Gardens at Lake Merritt, a seven-acre collection of themed gardens, is conveniently located in the heart of Oakland at Lakeside Park, our nation’s first wildlife refuge.

Established more than a half century ago, the Gardens serve as a source of great regional pride, a cultural and educational center and a place to enjoy tranquility in the heart of the city. The Gardens are poised to serve as an example of the highest standards of horticulture and historic preservation, while providing enriching public programs.

A Garden Is a Reflection of Its Community

The Gardens are a collection of small themed gardens requiring varying levels of upkeep. Volunteers provide much needed maintenance assistance as the City of Oakland’s gardening staff has been dramatically reduced over time.

With your involvement and support, the Gardens will represent the best of who we are.

You are enthusiastically invited to join the Gardens’ volunteer work party days and/or support the Gardens through a donation; both are critical to preserving this community asset.

Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt

The Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt (FGLM) was formed in 2004. In partnership with the City of Oakland, FGLM supports garden revitalization through volunteerism, funding and special projects; ensuring these gardens remain a vibrant, relevant part of urban life.

You can see the results of FGLM volunteer efforts in the new Mediterranean and Sensory Gardens, along with growing participation and sponsorship of educational and festive public events.

Please join us by sharing the vision, volunteering in the Gardens and/or making a donation.

Entrance to the gardens is free, but there are parking fees to enter Lakeside Park on Bellevue Ave. Week days after 1:00 PM it is $2.00. On the weekends the parking fee is $5.00. The gates to the gardens are open by 9:00 AM daily and the gates are closed at dusk in the winter and 6:00 PM for the rest of the year.

A Map of The Gardens At Lake Merritt

THE GARDEN COLLECTION

1. Bonsai Garden – One of the finest open-air bonsai collections in the United States, and the permanent home of more than 150 outstanding bonsai trees.

2. Community Garden – Organic demonstration and trial food gardens emphasize optimizing a garden’s potential through plant selection and growing techniques. Certified garden specialists are available to answer questions, and offer free workshops during the summer months.

3. Japanese Garden – Members of the Japanese American community constructed this garden, featuring a tranquil blend of water and plants, in 1959.

4. Mediterranean Garden – Installed in 2009, the centerpiece of this garden is the historic 1914 Easterbrook Fountain. Radiating pathways and colorful Mediterranean-climate plantings are featured.

5. Lakeside Palmetum – The most extensive collection of cool Mediterranean and high altitude tropical plants in the continental United States.

6. Rhododendron Garden – Locally produced hybrids and selected plants from areas generally unavailable to botanists are highlighted.

7. Sensory Garden – Award-winning garden featuring plants and herbs appealing to all the senses.

8. Succulent Garden – Includes succulents and cacti from around the world featuring an incredible variety of interesting leaf forms and plant shapes.

9. The Torii Gate – The Torii is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entry to a Shinto shrine and marks the entrance to a sacred space. The original Torii Gate was a gift to the City of Oakland in 1969 from the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Fukuoka, Japan, Oakland’s sister city.

10. Vireya Display Garden – The largest outdoor collection of Vireya in the continental United States. Vireyas, a special kind of rhododendron native to islands between Asia and Australia, flower throughout the year in coastal California.

11. Bay Friendly Demonstration Garden – Teaches maintenance practices and plant selection supporting resource conservation and waste reduction.

August Garden Events and Gardening Tips

Elise — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:47:49 +0000

August Special Events

Wild Oakland Free Guided Pollinator Walk in the Gardens Saturday, August 10, noon-2:00. Learn what is happening in the plant and pollinator world of Oakland… like the construction of our new bee hotel!

The walk and talk will be led by Tora Rocha, Park Supervisor for the City of Oakland and founder of the Pollinator Posse, a volunteer group working to create pollination corridors as well as hand-rearing butterflies to increase survival rates (and because it’s fun).

She’ll teach you about what’s going on behind the scenes to increase pollinator activity in Oakland through initiatives like creating pollination corridors and managing and creating habitat through projects like the Bee Hotel, and more!

You also will learn how to get involved with the Gardens to help create more habitat and join the Pollinator Posse to raise and release your very own monarch, if you’re so inspired. For more info, check out the invite on the Wild Oakland website.

Planning and Planting a Great Winter Vegetable Garden, Saturday, August 24, noon-1pm: Learn how to grow a hearty cool weather vegetable garden. There are many benefits to a fall and winter garden as a wide variety of vegetables thrive in the cooler months.

Lead by Master Gardener Sam Foushee, who grows beautiful vegetables during all seasons in three Bay Area communities, you will learn the special needs vegetables have in the fall and winter as well as how to plan your garden and plant for success.

This talk is free and open to the public. Please join us, and bring your own gardening questions! Gather in the Master Gardener Trials Gardens in the Edible Demonstration Garden. Download the full Workshop Series schedule here: 2013 Trials Garden Workshop Series

Introduction to Bonsai: Interactive Demo and Questions in the Bonsai Garden, Sunday, August 25, 1pm-3pm. This free workshop (held every fourth Sunday of the month) covers the art of Bonsai including techniques, styling, care and grooming. You are welcome to bring your own tree for some TLC.

Community Work Party Events

First Saturday of each month, (August 3) 9am-noon – Mediterranean Garden

First Saturday of each month, (August 3 9am – 1:30pm – Succulent Garden

First and third Saturday of each month, (August 3 & August 17) - Edible Gardens. If you’re interested in gardening at an Edible Garden; the Victory Garden Foundation’s People’s Victory Garden will have mentored gardening days on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Please see the Event Calendar for the month.

Third Saturday of each month, (August 17) 9am- noon – Sensory Gardens, Palmetum, and the Rhododendron Garden

WEEKLY

Every Tuesday Evening, Sensory Garden, 5:30pm-7:30pm.

Every Thursday Morning, Succulent Garden, 9am-noon

August Gardening Tips

Prepared by the Alameda County Master Gardeners

Summer: The gardener’s hard work is rewarded with beautiful blooms and tasty vegetables.

Fertilize, water, deadhead, etc.
Begin planting cool crops for fall and winter harvest. Cole crops (broccoli, mustard, cabbage, etc.), beets, carrots, lettuce (provide shade), green onions, potatoes, peas, etc. Wait until September in hotter climates.
Start seeds of cool season annuals (calendula, stock, etc.).
Request your brochure for our Seminar: Fall Seminar on Bay Area Gardening
Check to be sure that your irrigation system is working and meets the needs of your garden with the calculator for estimating water needs.

For more information on gardening tips and information from the Alameda County Master Gardeners, go to http://acmg.ucdavis.edu/

Join Wild Oakland for a Pollinator Walk and Talk

Danielle — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:50:05 +0000

Come join Wild Oakland for a walk in the Gardens Saturday, August 10, noon-2:00, and learn what is happening in the plant and pollinator world of Oakland… like the construction of our new bee hotel!

The walk and talk will be led by Tora Rocha, Park Supervisor for the City of Oakland and founder of the Pollinator Posse, a volunteer group working to create pollination corridors as well as hand-rear butterflies to increase survival rates (and because it’s fun).

She’ll teach you about what’s going on behind-the-scenes to increase pollinator activity in Oakland through initiatives like creating pollination corridors, managing and creating habitat through projects like the Bee Hotel, and more!

You can also learn how to get involved with the Gardens to help create more habitat and join the Pollinator Posse to raise and release your very own monarch, if you’re so inspired.

For more info, check out the invite on the Wild Oakland website.

July Garden Events and Gardening Tips

Elise — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 20:26:25 +0000

July Special Events

Golden Gate Lily Society Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, noon-5pm, in the Lakeside Park Garden Center. Free admission.

Sydney Mitchell Iris Society Sale, Friday, July 26, 7:30pm in the Lakeside Park Garden Center. Free admission.

Managing Pests in Your Garden Safely, Saturday, July 27, noon-1pm: Want to learn more about what is eating your vegetables? Or what virus killed your tomato plants? And where to find out more when you do have a pest problem in your yard? This is the talk for you. Learn how to identify your bugs and manage them in the least toxic manner. Bring leaf & bug samples!

Master Gardener Dennis Brown will help you see your way through aphids, ants, snails and slugs as you learn about common pests and diseases. This talk is free and open to the public. Please join us, and bring your own gardening questions! Gather in the Master Gardener Trials Gardens in the Edible Demonstration Garden. Download the full Workshop Series schedule here: 2013 Trials Garden Workshop Series

Introduction to Bonsai: Interactive Demo and Questions in the Bonsai Garden, Sunday, July 28, 1pm-3pm. This free workshop (held every fourth Sunday of the month) covers the art of Bonsai including techniques, styling, care and grooming. You are welcome to bring your own tree for some TLC.

Community Work Party Events

First Saturday of each month, (July 6) 9am-noon – Mediterranean Garden

First Saturday of each month, (July 6) 9am – 1:30pm – Succulent Garden

First and third Saturday of each month, (July 6 & July 20) - Edible Gardens. If you’re interested in gardening at an Edible Garden; the Victory Garden Foundation’s People’s Victory Garden will have mentored gardening days on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Please see the Event Calendar for the month.

Third Saturday of each month, (July 20) 9am- noon – Sensory Gardens, Palmetum, and the Rhododendron Garden