I have taken so much inspiration from my fellow gardeners at the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden. With a season under our collective boots, there is a garden closer to home that I now appreciate even more.
It is the WPA Rock Garden at William Land Park in Sacramento.
This three-quarter acre gem is tucked inside the park,
between the quaint Fairytale Town, Sacramento Zoo, the outdoor theatre in the round,
and the duck pond.
It was originally built in 1940 as part of the New Deal’s Work Projects Administration – thus WPA – and has been our city’s hidden treasure for generations.
But it wasn’t always the oasis it has become.
A well-known local horticulturist, Daisy Mah, took over care of the garden in 1988 after it had been overgrown by ivy. This sounds like a familiar tale to our Homeward Bound volunteer gardeners.
Instead of the typical water-thirsty and shade-loving plants you find in neighboring gardens, she planted drought-tolerant plants from the Mediterranean climates.
The paths are laid with decomposed granite; the beds raised with low rock walls.
The naturalized mixture of grasses and perennials, flower and foliage, light and shadow remind me of Ina’s Cottage Garden…
with little surprises tucked into every corner.
Beginning with a budget that would not even buy you a night at the movies – ingenuity, propagation expertise and, as rumor has it, fertilizer originally contributed by the zoo animals, has created this meandering maze of delights.
Daisy Mah has announced her retirement from the City Parks and Recreation department this year.
What will happen with to the garden remains to be seen, with the economy already severely testing city resources.
A great community volunteer effort has risen to the task of maintaining the park, and some have worked for years with Daisy to maintain this wonder. Hopefully, the WPA Rock Garden will continue with this dedicated group.
One thing is certain – Daisy Mah has created a living legacy.
One that deserves our admiration and our commitment to carry on her good work for the generations to come.
Gardens For Goldens 
that’s a beautiful place to go for a walk.
Absolutely. For children especially!
So beautiful! Good for the heart just to walk through it virtually; I can only imagine how lovely it is to actually be in such beauty!
Glad I could bring it to you this way, at least! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Oh yes, Daisy’s garden has also inspired me repeatedly over the years – I love the natural looking and eclectic garden style with all the many levels from ground covers to trees. Daisy’s talent and hard work will be greatly missed!