The Prisk Native Garden was created to be a hands-on environmental nature center on an elementary school campus. The large, semi-wild garden provides an educational resource utilizing the native flora of California arranged by plant groupings. Among the associative disciplines that can be studied first hand are: botany, ethnobotany (human uses of native plants), environmental studies, entomology, ornithology, local and regional geology and geography, history, horticulture, wildlife photography, and crafts. Students of all educational levels, as well as the community, use and enjoy the garden.

The garden was started in 1996 by the school science teacher Candy Jennings, her husband Alan, her neighbor Frank, and native plant enthusiast Mike Letteriello. Their vision and hard work turned a bare plot of dirt into the beautiful garden that it is today. With the exception of a small planting area that is used by classrooms, the garden contains only plants that are native to California. The garden is a National Wildlife Federation, Certified Wildlife Habitat.

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                                     Anise Swallowtail

                                 Anna's Hummingbird

                              Western Fence Lizard

Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii)

Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri)

California lilac (Ceanothus species)

plant images used with permission www.laspilitas.com