Pinyon Design-Nature Interpretation

Interpretive Master Plan Report
San Juan Suburban Water District
WEL Garden (water-efficient landscape)
Roseville, California
Xeriscape Demonstation Garden
Thomas A. Stille

Introduction

Demonstration gardens have many purposes. The most obvious role for this garden is public education and information about how to design, build and manage a garden using less water. To be successful, another role for the garden will be to provide a beautiful setting where people can enjoy the wonders of the plant world. Just like visitors to a museum would be inspired by works of art, visitors to this garden should marvel at the beautiful displays of plants, landscapes and architectural features. The garden must provide a positive aesthetic experience.

Environmental aesthetics will be the major factor which attracts visitors to the garden and should be a main source of community pride and thus public support. Other purposes of the garden will be preservation and conservation of plants as well as a sanctuary for birds, animals and people. The oak groves of this garden is an example of a commitment to restore and preserve the native and historical aspects of this region. Protecting our botanical heritabe is an important purpose. Equally important, this garden can teach by example the concepts of conservation and make people more aware of the importance of native fauna and flora. To alesser degree, this garden may function in the area of research. Research can be applied studies on plants which will do well in this area to basic principles of botany, horticulture and ecology. the emphasis here will no doubt be various trials of may types of plants that will grow well and perform in this climate with less water. Applied research may very well be patterned after the seven XeriscapeTM steps, for example determining the best mulch methods and thicknesses of various products that are available in the surrounding area.

A demonstration garden should serve the public, be used and enjoyed by people and be a source of community pride. To be successful, this garden should contain unique places to visit offering solitude to some, passive recreation to others and lots of invformation to the homeowners and business leaders who have a desire to develop beautiful gardens using less water. Interpretation will deliver information in an exiciting and interactive manner. Planning for interpretation starts with identifying garden purposes and a mission statement.

Garden Mission Statement

A clear explanation of purposes is essential to the success of any garden. A mission statement or precise purpose statement is essential and it must be communicated to individuals and groups if a garden is to be successful. It not only guides all planning and development of facilities and programs, but may be the key to capital and operational funding. A preliminary mission statement might be as follows:

To provide, document and maintain a living collection of drought-tolerant and adaptive plants and garden areas that show residents and environments while using water efficiently.

Another alternative might be:

The mission of the San Juan Suburban Water District Xeriscape Demonstration Garden is to show area residents how to develop and maintain beautiful garden areas while using less water.

After a mission statement is finalized and adopted, garden goals and objectives should follow. This process should be well thought out and guide the final design of various garden elements and final interpretive solutions. Phasing could very well be a part of this process.

Interpretive Methods

Methods for interpreting the demonstration garden could be categorized into two areas-staffed and unstaffed. Staffed and volunteer services include guided tours, information desk services, roaming interpreters or trained groundskeepers to answer questions and help the visitors understand and appreciate what they are experiencing. Trained volunteers will be essential for this demonstration garden if staffed services are an important part of the interpretive program.

Self-Guided Services: Self-guided services are interpretive opportunities that the public can use without an interpreter present. The cost per visitor often seems quite low but preparation of materials will require a large initial investment of time and materials. Included in this category are signs, labels, brochures, information kiosks and more high-tech methos including outdoor audio message statements, recorded radio and telephone information messages, etc.

The emphasis of this master plan report is on the unstaffed interpretive methods.

Interpretive Methods:

Plant Labels: Label correctly all plants is the first priority in any garden situation. Keeping records of where plants come from, when they were planted, where they were planted, the size and developing a computerized system of plant accessions.

Brochure: There is a need to create something for people to take home that includes general thematic information about the garden and specific recommendations that are illustrated in the garden. These facts and information are best written down and taken home for future reference materials. the brochure could contain a map of the garden.

An information center/kiosk: As people enter the garden there is a need to provide an interpretive focus. This place could be staffed and contain the brochure and other related information. An orientation map of the garden is essential which explains the mission and function of the garden, previews what people will see in the garden and also directs them to areas that they may have specific interest in.

Self-guided tour brochures are relatively inexpensive to produce and are flexible for making changes. They can be used in conjunction with interpretive signs or with numbered posts. They are used extensively in park situations. These brochures are limited by the amount of inrormation that can be included and availability for viwsitors in the garden. They must be constantly produced and available at all times.

Interpretive signs and panels: Most public gardens have installed interpretive panesls and a hierarchy of signs to direct visitors through the garden and provide interesting and valuable information about the demonstration garden, its plants and its gardens.

Garden title orientation maps: As mentioned earlier, an orientation map of the garden located in the entrance kiosk will provide visitors with an overall view of the garden. This will be the largest map with garden titles, collection themes and location of rest rooms, classrooms, etc. Smaller garden or collection maps are also inlcuded. These introductory panels explain the garden theme and concepts and provide general information about that particular garden. Large in size, the garden title panel may include graphics and usually contain between 50-200 words.

Group/collection panels: These interpretive signs compare small parts of the garden or similar plants and provide more specific information. In size, group labels fall between larger orientation panels and smaller identification or specific caption labels. They may contain graphics and generally contain 25-100 words.

Caption labels: These smaller signs are used in garden situations to describe detailed information about specific plants or features. They usually contain less than 40 words because they provide interpretive information right in front of the plant. Captions can have a greater impact on the visitor than more general brochures or displays in an orientation raea. Both caption labels and group labels can be interactive setting up questions that are answered by the visitor or pointing out itenms for the visitor to notice.

Note: The label terms and definitions in this report are based on those used by Beveraly Serrell in Making Exhibit Labels.