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Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Garden Conservancy
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There are more than 145 species or varieties of plants in 105 known genera living on "The Rock"—a surprising collection considering all of the plants were introduced to the island, some more than a century ago, and have survived forty years of neglect and a challenging environment. Over the years, gardeners indulged themselves with their favorite plants-former Secretary to the Warden Freddie Reichel brought in rare plants, prison staff and their families leaned toward roses and fuchsias, while the inmate gardeners tended toward bulbs and brightly flowering plants. Co-author Russell Beatty wrote in Gardens of Alcatraz:
"Each rationale for planting introduced yet another botanical variation into a place where no one would ordinarily have considered planting anything at all. As a composite, these individual choices created an island garden that has evolved over the years into a rich tapestry."
To learn more about the efforts of the Garden Conservancy or how you can volunteer, please try any of the following links:
(PDF, 1.4 MB)
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Garden Conservancy Volunteers (3 Photos)
Photos showing the volunteers of the Garden Conservancy helping out to restore the Gardens of Alcatraz.
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![Nasturtium [Tropaeolum majus]](/pwr/pgallerycontent/p/s/20080112121628.jpg) |
Gardens of Alcatraz (71 Photos)
Photos of flora commonly found on Alcatraz Island, presented by volunteers of the Garden Conservancy. To find out more on how you can volunteer visit Support Your Park.
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Did You Know?
Alcatraz Island is the site of a large colony of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), the gull species that inhabits the Oregon and California coast. Individuals mate for life and come together each year on Alcatraz to defend their historic territory and raise three chicks.
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Last Updated: April 20, 2008 at 08:03 EST |