Gardens to Visit or Volunteer to Help Out

Within the San Fernando Valley

Japanese Gardens - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Lake Balboa Home - A stunning 6.5 acre Japanese Garden adjacent to the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. In the midst of the busy San Fernando Valley lies an oasis – a 6 1/2 acre garden, which features three gardens in one. August 10th Event Closed Friday-Sunday. The exquisite design of the “garden of water and fragrance” (suihoen) which was dedicated June 14, 1984, leads us from a world of freeway traffic, pressures and haste into a world of meditative calm where it is possible to focus on and remember the very simple and beautiful in both nature and our lives.

Orcutt Ranch Horticulture Center - 23600 Roscoe Blvd., West Hills, CA 91304 Hours of Operation Sunday - Saturday: Dawn to Dusk. The historic property features not only the Spanish-style adobe residence with an abundance of gorgeous, architectural features but extensive gardens including a seasonal rose garden, a large variety of plants and trees, including a historic 700 year old oak tree, creeks, nature trails, fruit orchards, a rustic barn, courtyard and gazebo. The Department of Recreation and Parks has dedicated a portion of the Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center as a community garden. City residents who would like to raise their own fruit and vegetables can rent a 10-foot by 20-foot space for a nominal annual charge

Granada Hills Salad Bowl Garden Club is a non-profit, community garden located in the vibrant neighborhood of Granada Hills. 16025 Rinaldi Street Granada Hills, CA 91344 Come Join Us for Community Volunteer Day, August 16 8:30 - 11 am Com Join Us for Community... - Granada Hills Salad Bowl Garden Club | Facebook

Black Thumb 8380 Ventura Cyn Ave., Panorama City, CA 91402 85% of the crops we grow are culturally relevant to our youth and their families. During our programming year, all of the food grown on the farm is harvested and taken home by our program participants. We prioritize growing culturally relevant crops so the food grown can be used and eaten, limiting waste and prioritizing our people's heritage and culture. Black Thumb Farm’s programming focuses on educating youth in our community and restoring the vital, broken connections of communities with nutritious food and with the land. Food is grown sustainably and with an eye on long-term soil health.

Tujunga Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary – Parks & Recreation 10711-10749 Foothill Fwy Sunland, CA - The 13-acre Tujunga Ponds site in Sunland was acquired by the Department in 1978, following the CalTrans completion of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway through Tujunga wash, requiring CalTrans to create the pond site in mitigation for loss of similar habitat under the freeway. In agreement with California Fish & Game and CalTrans, the Department accepted the site and its management as a mitigation area, fenced, gated and closed as the area as a wildlife habitat. It was agreed that the site could be accessed by permit from the Department (Natural Areas) and existing trails around the ponds could be used by visiting groups for nature study, photography and similar passive recreation. The site contains 2 small lakes (ponds) and surrounding dense willow riparian woodlands and cottonwood riparian woodlands.

Tujunga Garden of Resilience and Inclusion - FormLA Landscaping - 6301 Foothill Boulevard (Foothill + Pali), Sunland-Tujunga The Tujunga Welcome Garden of Resilience and Inclusion currently features boisterous native wildflowers Open: Visible 24×7 from Spring 2025 Cost: Free

Near the SFV:

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, 400 W. Gainsborough Rd., Thousand Oaks conejovalleybotanicgarden.com.

Adamson House - Malibu Welcome to Adamson House Admission for Adamson House and Garden Tours Adults: $7 / 6–17 years: $2 / 5-years and under: free For the most recent updates and alerts, please visit: California State Parks official website Guided Garden Tours are at 10:00 am every Friday, and include an Adamson House tour.

Cafe on 27 - 1861 N Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290 - not quite a garden but the view and outdoor eating is within the parameters of visiting the outdoors.

A little further away:

Huntington Library and Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino. 626-405-2100. huntington.org/free-day.

Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. 818-949-4200, descansogardens.org

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden. 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. arboretum.org/free-day-tickets/

South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula. 424-452-0920. southcoastbotanicgarden.org.

UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr., Los Angeles. (Campus parking in Structure 2 costs $15, or look for street parking.) botgard.ucla.edu.

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