Alluvial Terrace

 

Art: In front of the Education Center, Lady of Found Objects - Christine Wiseman

Entrance: The Alluvial Terrace begins at the Education Center which was completed in May 2007. It was designed by Sam to showcase the work of other artists and craftspeople and to provide a place for demonstrations and lectures.

Plantings: This area uses chaparral plants that require little water. These plantings are intended to remind us of the vast alluvial outwash fans that are typical of the region, and rapidly becoming endangered due to extensive housing development. Near the old house and Avocado grove, there is a pallet of mostly native slope plants. These tolerate summer water from the Avocado grove runoff and contrast with the rocks and rock lined catch basins and swales in this area.

Design: In the upper area, local rocks were saved by Sam during construction and used for landscaping and drainage swales. Around the education center, the original terrain is recreated in pots. In the middle level, chaparral alternates with rock lined swales and catch basins. On the East is the Eucalyptus windrow with the natural arroyo beyond it. To the West is the Museum (old residence) which is buffered by a small Avocado grove.

There is a young Avocado grove between the Alluvial Terrace and Old Residence. This is reminiscent of the original site where the home was surrounded by tall old trees and mature Avocados. Because of this, Sam never saw the roof line until the residence was moved to this site. From the lower area Sam saw the roof line for the first time and said “It doesn’t look like a house, it looks like a village!” The Avocados will eventually grow to block the museum from view, re-establishing the historical cover.