New Plants Save Water, Add Color to Port of San Diego's Coronado Tidelands Park

Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6200

Twenty-one plants that will produce vivid red and purple blooms now line part of the walkway in Coronado Tidelands Park, near the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.

The Port of San Diego gardeners who are responsible for maintaining the park, hope to plant additional low-water-use plants along the walkway and create pocket gardens with water-wise plants in portions of the park. The new plants replace some of the Natal plum hedges.

"I hope the gardens will be areas where people will stop, relax and reflect on the beauty of the bay," said Port gardener Gabe Gonzalez, who proposed the eco-friendly plants in Coronado Tidelands Park.

More than a year ago, the Port established the Green Port Program that is designated to minimize the Port’s impact on the environment. Curbing water use is one element of the program.

"With current water regulations in effect, projects of this type benefit the entire region," said Michelle White, manager of the Green Port program and Senior Environmental Specialist in the Environmental Services Department.

Once the water-wise plants are established in a few months, it is estimated water use for the area will be reduced by 80 percent. Additional water-use landscaping can be found at the entrance to the west end of Spanish Landing Park.

Gonzalez, along with lead gardener Paul Morison and gardener Jorge Osuna, maintain the entire 22-acre Coronado Tidelands Park, the largest of the Ports’ 17 parks that are located along San Diego Bay and the Imperial Beach oceanfront.

The plants debuted in July and cost less than $500. The plants have been well received by many Coronado residents who regularly walk along the bay-front path.

"It looks nice," said Coronado resident Earl Barker. "Gabe keeps this park looking spiffy. He does a great job."

Gonzalez said many people imagine gravel, rocks and cactus when they think of low-water-use landscaping. "I wanted to show that a water-wise garden can be attractive," he said. "There can be color, texture in the foliage and variety of plant types."

Plants along the walkway include Coral Fountain, (Russelia equestiforma), which produces a vivid red bloom, and graceful Dark Knight, (Caryopteris clandonensis), now in purple bloom.

Gonzalez pointed out the plants he selected are "people proof," meaning there are no thorns, needles or spines that could cause injury. Only the root balls of the water-wise plants need to be watered, not a large surrounding soil area.

"We’re pleased that the Port’s General Services Department has taken the initiative to install water-wise landscaping," said Kelly Makley, Associate Environmental Specialist in the Port’s Environmental Services Department. "The project supports the Green Port Program by reducing the Port’s environmental impact and demonstrates ways that park visitors can incorporate water-wise practices into their own yards while still maintaining a beautiful landscape," she said.

Benefits of a water-wise garden include fewer days of watering, less area that needs to be watered and less maintenance since water-wise plants don’t require trimming.

Gonzalez said he has a palette of plants to consider for the creation of the future pocket gardens. Other projects include planting low water-use plants along other areas of the walkway and adding benches so people can sit and enjoy the view of San Diego Bay.

In his four years at the Port, Gonzalez has also gardened on Harbor Island and assisted the crew in the parks on the Chula Vista bayfront.

"My goal for my career here is to beautify the Port," Gonzalez said.