Fowler, Grubisic, Kirby, and Dobbs Recognized as Master Gardeners
City Parks and Recreation Appreciates Creation of Butterfly Garden at October Meeting
At each monthly meeting, the Park & Recreation Commission recognizes those who have volunteered their time and talents to help with projects related to the Parks & Recreation Department. On Wednesday, October 27, the Commission recognized the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Santa Barbara County Master Gardeners and Grant Castleberg, ASLA, for the Butterfly Garden at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.
For the past two years, the Parks Division teamed up with the UCCE Santa Barbara County Master Gardeners to plant and maintain a small section of the garden (along the Arrellaga Street side) utilizing sustainable gardening practices. This garden plot was full of tired plant material and many weeds. The Master Gardeners volunteered many hours weeding, mulching, watering, and replacing dead plants. The section has now been turned into a butterfly garden with over 30 different plant species that attract butterflies.
The concept of a butterfly garden was proposed and developed by the Master Gardeners. Mr. Grant Castleberg, ASLA, who designed Alice Keck Memorial Garden in 1976, volunteered his services to review the design and plant selection and to assist with installation.
The Park & Recreation Commission recognized the dedication of Helen Fowler, Donna Grubisic, Lynn Kirby, Bruce Dodds and the rest of the team of Master Gardeners who volunteered their time, along with Grant Castleberg for his assistance in the design of the butterfly garden as well as the technical expertise he provides the Parks Division in the additional improvements to Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.
