One of the most biologically diverse regions worldwide, the California Floristic Province is a unique group of ecosystems ranging from Baja California in the south to Oregon in the north. It encompasses coastal scrub ecosystems (like you find here in SF and along the coast of California) to the deserts of Joshua Tree and all the way to the verdant ancient forests of the Coastal Redwoods in Humboldt.

Inspired by SF’s local botanical diversity, this garden showcases California native plants which are found nowhere else on earth.  In fact, the region (botanically known as the California Floristic Province) is one of the top 35 biodiversity hot spots worldwide!

Plants selected for this garden directly support local pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Showcasing the interconnectedness of life on earth, see if you can find any of our pollinator friends buzzing around to collect the pollen (like protein) and nectar (like carbohydrates) they need in order to survive. These plants and animals have evolved together, supporting one another to thrive in the world’s constantly-changing climate.

Created with up-cycled granite curbs from San Francisco’s historic streets (mined in Folsom, California, in the late 1800s) this crescent-shaped bench reminds us of the edge of a black hole, which is called the event horizon.

The gravitational pull of a black hole pulls everything into it, including objects, materials, space, light and even time itself.  No one knows what lies beyond the event horizon inside a black hole.  In fact only recently in April of 2019 did the first ever photograph get taken of an event horizon, with our very own black hole inside.

Designed by CAN! Director Markos Major, and skillfully masoned into place by Nathan Sammons (with Down To Earth Landscaping LINK), the Event Horizon bench reminds us of the miracles of the universe, and the importance of conserving life on our magical planet earth.

Placed mid-block the Nature Play Zone is demarcated with a 25-post split-rail cedar fence which is set in concrete footings.  The meandering, undulating fence line ensures that the area is blocked in from the busy Boulevard behind. There are movable natural items, like logs and leaf litter, a “dig zone” and other natural mutable items determined botanically or ecologically interesting by the community.

Showcasing the incredible and sometimes fragile biological diversity (biodiversity) of California’s rich ecosystems, the Curb Extinction Gardens are created from up-cycled granite curbs originating from San Francisco’s historic streets mined in Folsom, California, in the late 1800s. These curbs were removed to repave historic streets downtown, converting granite curbs and basalt cobble-stone streets into concrete and asphalt.

These rings of biodiversity remind us of the connectivity of all living things and highlight some of the invaluable species of plants native to California. Our state boasts many world records in botany, including the world’s oldest, tallest and most massive trees. Other species of plants with less acclaim still support extensive amounts of life. Some of those species, species from SF’s coastal scrub ecosystem are showcased here in these 5 rings.

Extinction is when a living thing dies out completely and no longer exists in its living form – just like the dinosaurs. Can you imagine a world without hummingbirds or bees? That would be terrible! These gardens help remind us of the interconnectivity of life on earth and the incredible value of life here in our golden state.

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