The Grand Opening of Guadalupe's Native Garden was a huge success.

On Saturday, August 2, Board member and Mayor of Guadalupe Frances Romero cut the ribbon to officially open the garden to the public. The event included a native garden scavenger hunt and educational, interactive exhibits throughout the garden.

In 2010, a group of local youth converted an abandoned lot into a beautiful community native garden—a collaborative effort with the United Way. Most of the plants in the garden are native to the Central Coast, but it also includes plants that grow well in this area.

The garden began as a summer camp project for junior high students and evolved into an educational opportunity for the community. Thanks to generous donations from the Evans Family, PG&E, Chevron, the City of Guadalupe, and California State Parks, the Dunes Center completed the garden with a path to make the street safer for pedestrians and an educational kiosk.

The Dunes Center plans on having more events in the garden throughout the year. Visitors can also check out the blog for a highlighted plant each month and more native garden information.

Check out some of the publicity surrounding the children's garden:
Dunes Center Opens Native Garden  (KSBY)
Grand Opening Set for Guadalupe Native Garden (Santa Maria Times)
Wisdom from the Children (Santa Maria Times Commentary)

Compiled by intern Tram Nguyen