For a map of the garden areas, please click here.

|| Heritage or Notable Trees ||
The Marin Art & Garden Center is graced with beautiful established trees, a number of them over one hundred years of age, such as the English Oak (Quercus robur) in the Butterfly Habitat Garden and the Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) brought from Yosemite Valley as a small tree in the 1880's. The sequoia is unusual with its rounded top and domed-over appearance, associated with thousand year old trees.

A towering Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) forms a canopy over a Victorian gazebo and beds brimming with vividly colored perennials, annuals, bulbs and more. The venerable tree was planted in 1947 from seed collected during an archeological expedition to China that re-discovered the species. The Dawn redwood is one of only a few species of deciduous conifers in the world.

Towering Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata) are native here, growing in the fertile bottom lands long before homes were built and gardens planned. You'll find deciduous varieties of mulberry (Morus), crabapple (Malus), many cultivars of Japanese maples (Acer japonica), elm (Ulmus), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), and a beautiful specimen of weeping beech (Fagus sylvatica). Dogwoods (Cornus 'Kousa') provide a glorious show in the spring along with a multitude of flowering fruit trees. On the north perimeter of the gardens a glorious stand of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) put on a brilliant display of color in late summer.

|| Butterfly Habitat Garden ||
This garden demonstrates a good approach to creating habitat for butterflies, other insects and birds. A mixture of plants, native to California and other Mediterranean climates, provides for all the life stages of several species of butterflies, as well as habitat for many other insects and birds. The pond in this garden is ideal habitat for dragonflies, the "seep" at the shallow end provide wild creatures easy access to water. A bat box provides a daytime roost for these valuable insect eaters.

|| Channel Islands Garden ||
From the giant Mission Mallow to diminutive Dudleyas and Buckwheats, the plants in this garden all originate from the Channel Islands.

|| Memory Garden ||
To the northeast of the Rose Garden, you enter a serene circular glen, the Memory Garden, enshrouded by a quilted canopy of leaves and adorned by a variety of plantings around a supine stone maiden. Created by the Marin Garden Club early in the history of the Center, it is "a place of quiet beauty for remembering."

|| Native Basketry Garden ||
Also called "Redbud Gulch," this garden was developed by Charles Kennard, a talented local basket weaver, who specializes in techniques and materials traditionally used by the California Native Peoples. Charlie also offers hands-on classes in these traditional techniques; when the plants are established, harvesting the materials to be used for a basket that becomes part of the lesson plan.

|| Native Medicinal Garden ||
Plants included in this collection all have properties that made them valuable as medicine for both the Native Peoples, and the first Europeans to settle in California.

|| Rose Garden ||
In the heart of the Center sits the Rose Garden encircled by a decorative wrought iron fencing laced with the fragrant blooms of climbing roses. Planted in 2004 with over one-hundred and fifty varieties - climbers, hybrid teas and floribundas, English roses, miniatures, shrub and old garden roses, the space brims with healthy plants, all maintained without the use of pesticides. The bounteous beauty that resides within the fenced area (protected from marauding deer) was designed and implemented and currently maintained by members of the Marin Rose Society. For a complete list of varieties in the garden, go to the Marin Rose Society website at marinrose.org.

|| Succulent Garden and Native Plants ||
A variety of succulent plants and cacti display a tremendous range of color and form in this small garden. The collection is planted on a berm, built up with boulders and coarse soil to ensure perfect drainage. Some specimens were donated by local fanciers.

|| Composting Demonstration Site ||
This site displays numerous bins and methods for composting; some suitable for the home gardener, and others designed for larger properties.

|| Plant Nursery ||
We grow hundreds of plants each year, starting from seeds or cuttings, many taken from "mother plants" growing in Center gardens. Plants are grown for use at the Center, for sale at educational programs, and for donation to schools and other non-profits wishing to create habitats. Our emphasis is on California native plants, and other species that provide for our local fauna. The nursery facility is also used to teach classes on practical plant propagation through the seasons.

|| Riparian Restoration Project ||
The long-term goal of this project is to create an educational restoration of Kittle Creek, a seasonal creek that runs through Center grounds. We have been removing non-native invasive plants, improving the soil fertility by sheet mulching, and planting California native species that are commonly found growing streamside. The native riparian plant community provides valuable habitat for numerous species of birds. Two Screech Owl nest boxes are mounted in protected areas along the stream bank.