The original interpretative plan for the garden included:
- Developing a brochure providing the visitor with basic orientation and interpretation of the garden and encouragement to visit the garden.
- A mural on the back of the restroom building, featuring some of the native plants in the garden and the relationships of these plants with insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and the importance of these plants to the various cultures that have inhabited the Great Basin.
- Interpretive panels to provide visitors with some basic concepts that apply to all native plant species like pollination and water saving strategies.
- Garden tours when time and staff allow.
- Creating special events centered around the garden.
- Using the garden as a focal point for lectures, programs on growing native plants as well as the arts. Using arts to interpret the garden.
This plan remains a great vision for the future and a challenge to the ESVC staff and Master Gardener volunteers. Due to changes in technology over the past ten years, in lieu of a paper brochure, the Master Gardeners will be hosting information about the plants on its website, available to the public. Information about the garden and the plants will posted on the Master Gardener's website and linked through QR codes accessible on visitors' cell phones.
- Author: Edie Warkentine
One of the current projects being undertaken by the Inyo-Mono County Master Gardeners is assisting in the revitalization, renewal and maintenance of the landscape at the Eastern Sierra Visitors Center (ESVC) in Lone Pine. Although the major emphasis of the project is the native plant garden, our fearless leader and Farm Advisor, Dustin Blakey, visited the ESVC to consult on some its other landscaping issues, resulting in a proposed landscape plan, which largely has been adopted and is in the process of implementation.
Recently, the BLM brought in a SCO team to assist in creating a saltgrass landscape in a portion of the property in the front of the ESVC. A significant portion of the property around the ESVC is covered in a variety of weeds and unwanted native plants; to create a “barrier” between that part of the property and the more developed property, which is covered in rocks and trees, Dustin suggested creating a saltgrass landscape, by taking plugs of saltgrass already growing on the property and creating a cohesive mass that can ultimately grow together into a beautiful carpet of saltgrass.
Since there was healthy saltgrass growing around the base of some of the trees, we transplanted plugs of that saltgrass to the empty landscape. The biggest challenge was loosening the soil enough to be able to remove plugs and then plant them. Water was used to loosen the soil, and the SCO crew had electronic augers, which they used to dig holes for the new plants. Holes were just large enough to accommodate the plug's root casing and to permit planting of the plug at the same soil depth as its place of origin. As one crew member removed a plug from beneath a tree, another planted it in the hole.
Immediately after planting, the plugs were watered from a nearby garden hose. The current challenge is keeping the soil evenly moist, but not soaked, until new growth appears. At that point, we will be able to determine a more permanent watering schedule, according to the specific needs of the plant.
It is a bit early in the season to accomplish the task of transplanting saltgrass, but an important lesson is to use human resources when they are available!
For additional information on saltgrass, see:
The original vision for the garden was summarized in an essay entitled “Native Garden Rejuvenation at the Interagency Visitor Center,” (authored by anonymous), as follows:
- To help visitors discover the unique flora and different plant communities that call the Eastern Sierra home. A sampling of what they might see as they travel through the region.
- To enable visitors to connect physically and emotionally with the gardens using their senses. A space to relax in for a short time before resuming the journey.
- To create a simple understanding of the ecology of the garden; the relationships that exist between these plants and other living organisms.
- To educate visitors to the benefits derived from incorporating native plantings into their ornamental landscape in respect to water and resource conservation, also luring birds, insects, and wildlife into the garden.
- To grow links between the garden and the community of Lone Pine. The garden becomes a source of pride, education, and inspiration for the community.
Although it has been several years since this vision was articulated, the vision remains a vibrant and appropriate one. The garden was planted in three distinct zones, representing the areas attracting visitors to the ESVC: (1) the Mojave Desert, (2) the Owens Valley, and (3) the Sierra Foothills.
The garden contains benches, inviting visitors to spend time in the garden and to learn about its ecology and benefits of a water-conserving landscape.
As the involvement of the Master Gardeners grows and becomes systematic, we hope to provide some of the education and inspiration envisioned for the local community.
The native plant demonstration garden was developed as part of a USDA Forest Service Project. In fiscal year 2006, Congress set aside funding for use by the National Forest System and its partners to fund cost-share projects. The Inyo National Forest submitted a project description for the Interagency Visitor Center Restoration and Native Plant Demonstration Project. It described the Project and its benefits as follows:
A newly upgraded Interagency Visitor Center* (IAVC) has recently been completed to better serve an increasing number of diverse visitors. The IAVC serves an international audience, with many visitors from Europe, Asia and across the United States, who are drawn to the area by globally significant scenic and recreation opportunities, including Mt. Whitney, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and Death Valley National Park. The previous IAVC, a much smaller facility, has been serving approximately 250,000 visitors annually. This number is expected to rise significantly with the improved facilities.
While the new IAVC was constructed on the site of the existing smaller facility, much of the area needed to be graded in order to facilitate construction. Restoration of the native alkali meadow, in conjunction with the creation of native plant demonstration garden for other local ecosystems, e.g., northern Mojave Desert, eastern Sierra foothill communities, etc., will provide a unique educational opportunity. Visitors may learn about the native vegetation in the local environment, as well as have the opportunity to witness a water-wise fire safe, native plant landscape.
… Approximately 1.5 acres of native plant landscaping will be developed on the grounds of the IAVC. A diverse mix of visitors, ranging from Los Angeles school groups traveling through to international visitors to the Lone Pine area, will gain an increased appreciation of local ecosystems, as well as an introduction to native plants and xeriscaping.
Long before actual work could begin, the Forest conducted preliminary soil/water site investigations. In addition, a botanical consultant prepared reports on potential botanical and wetland resources, as well as a noxious weed risk assessment. Copies of these reports, written in 2000/2001, are maintained at the Inyo NF Supervisor's Office.
Over the years, the garden was maintained by IAVC staff and occasional volunteer work parties. Everyone recognized the need to find a community group to adopt the garden and help with its restoration and maintenance. In late 2019, the Inyo-Mono County Master Gardeners partnered with the Inyo National Forest to research, restore, and maintain the native plant demonstration garden.
Since that time, a dedicated crew of volunteers has been working through the challenges including the closing of the IAVC and other COVID-related restrictions on work parties. The native plants in the garden grew, uninhibited, and many volunteer plants began to crowd out some of the original plantings. The automatic watering system failed. Some plants died due to lack of water, while other plants died due to over-watering. Nevertheless, much of the original skeleton of the garden design has been revived and we hope to continue maintenance of the garden on a regular schedule.
In the interim, we have been trying to unlock the history of the native garden and preserve it for future visitors.
This post is the first in a series that will share some of the history of the garden at the IAVC.
Other thoughts regarding possible future changes to the garden included:
- Making the picnic bench area adjacent to the garden and the Visitor Center entrance more amenable to visitors by creating shade.
- Removing the chain link fence and replacing it with a split rail or more natural fence that blends with the garden. Consider placing a wooden gate that would provide access to the Visitors Center entrance.
- Placing benches on the north side of the Visitor Center, facing out to the garden, to give visitors an opportunity to view the garden.
- Adding rock plantings to the garden to create additional interest.
- Moving the vending machines to provide room for the potential mural.
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* Now called the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center, but referred to as IAVC in this post.
- Author: Dustin Blakey
The UC Master Gardeners of Inyo and Mono Counties have been working on restoring and improving the landscape of the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors' Center in Lone Pine California in partnership with the US Forest Service. (map)
Most of the effort is being focused on the Native Plant garden at the site. Volunteers are working to restore and improve the garden.
In the course of working on the garden, we obtained numerous historical documents and information about the site. So that there is a single place to post this information, as well as updates on our progress, we have created this blog.
This is being created during the Covid-19 pandemic, so at the moment progress is slow. But progress there is. It is our hope that this will keep everyone up-to-date, and serve as a repository of information about the site to the volunteers that work on this project.
If you have questions about the project, please contact our Master Gardener helpline at immg@ucanr.edu.
