Demonstration Gardens

Home with water-wise landscapingVisit the Goleta Water District Demonstration Gardens To help customers create beautiful gardens that also conserve water, we offer our attractive Demonstration Gardens on the grounds of the Goleta Water District Office at: 4699 Hollister Avenue, Goleta (across from San Marcos High School).

The plants in the garden are grouped according to water use in a series of “rooms” including: Perennial Border, Mediterranean Garden, Exotic Garden, Traditional Garden, Southern California Native Garden, Desert Garden, and Edible Garden.

Water Wise Landscaping for the Goleta Valley Brochure: Water wise landscaping offers many benefits, including saving water, money, and reducing the time required to maintain your yard. A variety of plantings can be used to fit any design aesthetic without sacrificing a beautiful landscape. This brochure provides information on water use, irrigation systems, plant types, and basic landscaping. Whether you are refreshing landscaping after the drought, or designing new landscaping for your home, water wise design principles can help you achieve a beautiful and sustainable result. Click here to download the brochure PDF.

Planning Wisely Makes a Difference You can have a beautiful garden and still conserve water. One secret is choosing the right kinds of plants, which are water wise and sometimes native and even edible. Check out waterwisegardeningsb.org for ideas.

Variety of Options The Demonstration Gardens display a variety of water-conserving landscaping options with groupings of plants that are compatible, express numerous styles, and grow well here. To see a list of other demonstration gardens throughout Santa Barbara County click here.

Irrigation Methods Are Also Important Efficient irrigation systems save water. Drip and low-profile sprinklers are demonstrated. Go to WaterWiseSB.org for more information on Smart Irrigation Technology.

Healthy Soil Management The Goleta Water District uses no chemicals or pesticides on our demonstration gardens. Click here to learn more.

The garden is open free to the public during regular business hours.

Other Demonstration Gardens

Public demonstration gardens throughout Santa Barbara County provide living examples of resource efficient landscaping. Visit a garden in your area for an afternoon outdoors.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden City block bounded by Santa Barbara, Arrellaga, Garden and Micheltorena Streets, Santa Barbara. A 4.6-acre informal park emphasizing exotic flora. The planting areas are separated according to cultural conditions, ranging from boggy to arid, with a special section on low-water using plants. Plant directory is near center of the park, above the pond. Low-water using demonstration portion is southern half of garden with a interpretative sign, brochure, and plant list in the southwest corner of the garden. Open 8 am to sunset every day. Free.

Firescape 2411 Stanwood Drive/Route 192 (corner of Mission Ridge Road), Santa Barbara. Located across the street from Fire Station #7, this 1.7-acre labeled model garden demonstrates how risks of wildfire can be reduced through appropriate planting of low-water using plants, irrigation, and management.  Parking is available in the gravel lot by Fire Station #7 or at the Sheffield Reservoir Open Space parking lot. Open 8 am to sunset every day. Free.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 12212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. (805) 682-4726. A 65-acre garden of native plants of California, representing a variety of plant communities and important botanical and horticultural collections. The Home Demonstration Garden at the Botanic Garden is a working model of year-round water efficient landscaping for residential settings. The Garden is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and on weekends from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Small admission fee. For more information go to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Santa Barbara City College Lifescape Garden/Chumash Point Ethnobotanic Preserve 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara. The Lifescape Garden features a variety of low-water using and edible plants, as well as composting systems and efficient irrigation. Chumash Point emphasizes native plants from the range of the Chumash Indians. These plants have medicinal, nutritional and spiritual importance to the Chumash. Open sunrise to sunset every day. Free. To arrange a tour, call (805) 965-0581.

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