Plant Party at the Point: Update

February 02, 2018 Posted by: Nicole Ornelas

After receiving a Community Grant from the American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego Chapter, in collaboration with the San Diego Native Plant Society, the landscape surrounding Cabrillo National Monument Visitor center altered drastically. 

See previous Field Note: https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/plant-party-at-the-point.htm

Removing the vast majority of non-native ornamental species and replacing them with young native species, left the area looking a bit barren in the beginning. However, three months later, those native plants have had time to become rooted down and even blossom with minimal plant loss. 
 

NPS Photo/Nicole Ornelas - Native plants growing inside the traffic circle at Cabrillo National Monument

Encelia californica has spread particularly well and can be seen as ground cover in most of the areas of previous removal. Hopefully with San Diego's next rainfall, this plant will blossom into the Bush Sunflower that we all knowingly love. 
 
NPS Photo - Encelia californica, Bush Sunflower, in bloom

In addition to making some changes to the species located in this area, NPS staff and volunteers were able to put in new railings and signs to help protect the plant babies from wandering foot traffic. 

 NPS Photo/Nicole Ornelas - Posted sign in vegetation stating, "Don't trample the baby plants… Please stay on paved paths!"

Further plant restoration continues throughout Cabrillo National Monument, so make sure you keep an eye out for all the baby plants all around during your next visit. 

 NPS Photo/Nicole Ornelas - West facing side of Visitor Center with new native plant species and railing.