The Real Dirt

Tucked into one corner of the beautifully renovated Chapman Park is a small space destined to have a large impact: the Chapman Park Community Garden. Chapman Park sits on three acres adjacent to the Dorothy F. Johnson Center in the heart of the Chapman neighborhood.

One of the pleasures of the colder months is the opportunity to plan next year's garden while staying inside where it's warm.

While it's certainly possible to start California native perennials, shrubs and trees from seed, most people buy plants that are growing in pots to transplant to the yard. By far the best time for planting natives is October through late winter. The weather is cool and nature helps with irrigation.

The summer of 2024 was California's hottest on record.

Imagine a mountainous and remote rainforest along the ocean coast. Whisps of fog drift through the trees as cascades of colorful flowers sweep down from plants perched high on the tree limbs.