Cagwin & Dorward Landscape Contractors

May 14, 2010

Novato Residents, students and anyone interested in drought tolerant / fire resistant landscaping are invited to celebrate Novato Fire Station #3's Pyrophytic Demonstration Garden's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Saturday, May 22nd. Come see how the garden has grown in and learn what's in store for this summer. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - May 22 @ 10:00 a.m.

Family, Friends and members of the GO Team volunteered to lend a hand installing a very unique garden.

Novato Fire Station #3 had developed a Pyrophytic / Drought Tolerant public garden. The first of it's kind in Marin (possibly the State), this garden demonstrates that you can have drought tolerant plants that are also fire resistant - both of concern with our current climate condition.

Click to download the Project's Plant List

The landscape design was provided by Matt Buchholz of Urban Habitat Design, Novato. The area is divided to provide samplings of a California-style flower garden, an arid garden, a native garden, and a shade garden. Fully installed, it will include 800 native, Mediterranean and succulent plants. A "sweating rock" water feature will utilize a drainage catch basin and a decomposed granite path will meander through the garden for the public to explore.

Marin Landscape Materials and Green Point Nursery provided materials at or below cost, while PG&E provided trees best suited for planting under power lines.

Members of our Construction department donated labor time to prepare the planting areas. Our crew installed steel header boards, a dry creek bed, boulders and trees. With the planting complete, the final task will be connecting the drip irrigation.

Check out the ongoing photos of the project:

Coming Soon signboard provides plan details on the back side

Costly Lawn Removed
The costly lawn was removed and regrading begun

Equipment used to start moving earth into shape
Contractor, Bob Lewis, of Environmental Management, donated his time and equipment
towards shaping the new landscape

The Community Garden Day (there are some C&Ders in all that blue) . . . Forest Blue speaking to volunteers
Firefighter Paramedic, Forest Blue (speaking center), coordinated the project

Members of the Kentfield Fire Department lent a hand

C&D families got dirty with the rest of them

Ange has a trowel, and she knows how to use it!
Ange finishes a row

After the planting . . .

View from the side yard

Dry Creek Bed

Colorful Corner Berm of Pirophylites
New view from the corner of San Marin Drive & San Ramon Way

Celebrating after an intense morning of planting
Mark Heine, Battalion Chief, Mr. Carlson, Bill Tyler, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshall and local kids celebrate

Volunteer dscribes the process
The Public is already exploring the garden

Santa Stops By
The garden was such an impressive change, it drew the attention of Santa to stop by!

A Quick Inspection
Firefighter Paramedic, Forest Blue inspects the garden

For more information about Novato's Fire District's activities: http://www.novatofire.org/.

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News - Novato Fire Station #3 Demo. Garden Installation