Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

A Community Resource

The Department of Water and Power (DWP) broke ground on the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in July of 2012. The garden is located on Fox Farm Road across from the Kmart parking lot. You can stop by any time as it's along the sidewalk and in front of the fence of the China Gardens constructed by the Big Bear Valley Community Gardens Project. The Community Gardens Project has been years in the making, and the DWP is proud to collaborate with such an amazing endeavor that works to feed our community and bring it together.

Back in 2010 and with support from the City of Big Bear Lake and the DWP Board, the DWP was able to negotiate, in exchange for supplying water for the Community Gardens Project, about 3,300 square feet of garden space, some along Fox Farm Road and some inside the China Gardens.
View a map of the Community Gardens Project and where the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden is located.

In an effort to educate our community's residents and visitors on water-efficient landscape design, the DWP's Xeriscape Demonstration Garden highlights innovative Xeriscape design ideas that work well in our mountain community. After all, water is our most valuable community resource.

The Seven Gardens

There are seven theme gardens symbolically representing the seven principles of Xeriscape, which is a water-efficient landscaping method that includes native and drought-tolerant plants. There are over 80 different species of plants and all are Big Bear natives or drought-tolerant. Almost all the plants are labeled for ease of identification. When you’re at the garden, be sure to pick up the Big Bear Valley Xeriscape Planting Guide and other brochures.

If needed, the gardens are watered approximately once a month for 1 hour.

Here is a list of the gardens:

It’s a Colorful Life - Lots of beautiful flowers that bloom at different times so there’s always color.
Chef’s Special - Hungry? You can eat these plants! Medicinal plants will be here, too.
Rockin’ Native - Chocked full of native plants and various styles of rock gardens.
The Good Grass - Tall grasses, short grasses, even fake grass!
Hardscape Haven - Not sure what type of hardscape or mulch you want, this is the place!
Weekender’s Dream - No irrigation once these plants are established.
Color Cornucopia - Lots of color and lots of textures.

To top it off, there is a short pathway that highlights about a dozen different styles and might be the most interesting pathway you’ll ever walk on! You’ll be sure to find a style or idea will work with your yard and style. So stop on by, and maybe your landscaping creativity will be sparked! Check out the photo album to see the installation process.

Xeriscape & Native Plants

Please follow the links to see selected Xeriscape and California native plants. Click on the photos to enlarge, and click on the species link for description of plant.