Botanical Garden

Also known as Work Shed.

No. 32 · Unknown · Historical structure

The botanical garden was a dedicated space for cultivating and studying native California flora, with species such as incense cedar, foothill pine, and California bay laurel among its collection. The garden was originally accessible via a suspension bridge built in 1961, and later a more robust timber truss bridge in the 1970s, which improved access for visitors.

Though the garden was located across the creek from Poly Canyon and not directly within it, its role in the environmental and academic history of the region was significant. Over time, however, the garden faced environmental and accessibility challenges, leading to its eventual abandonment. Today, it remains a ghost structure, remembered for its educational contributions, but the site that once hosted it is now a relic of the past.

botanical garden, california native plants, sustainable landscaping, interpretive trail, ecological education

Photographs