Join us to learn about our amazing local community native plant garden!

The La Loma Native Garden was established in Modesto in 2017 by local resident, Rhonda Allen, whose goal was to develop a more usable space for a vacant strip of land in the middle of her neighborhood. The two-acre parcel is owned by the City of Modesto, had no water or electricity available, lacked maintenance or even a purpose. After neighborhood discussion and agreement with the city, a plan was created for a native garden that would provide a walking path and a drought tolerant landscape that would be easy to maintain and low cost to develop.

The city forestry crew planted 32 valley oak trees as a foundation for the garden design, while neighborhood leaders worked to find donations and supporters for the project. Rhonda began learning about native plants that are drought tolerant, working with native plant experts, she created a plant list and design for the growing garden. It has become a well used space, with a variety of plants to inspire any gardener. Benches are now found throughout the garden, a play area for children, little libraries, and info signs and boards display garden information.
The native garden has attracted its most important visitors of all, the local bees, butterflies, and birds that now have a place to forage and thrive. The native garden is a marvel to all who visit it.

Speaker: Rhonda Allen
Rhonda Allen is the developer of the La Loma Native Garden located in Modesto at 1805 Encina Avenue. She is a member of the California Native Plant Society- Northern San Joaquin Valley Chapter, certified as a California Naturalist, and a Stanislaus County Master Gardener. She is a speaker for the master gardeners on local pollinators, pollinator plants and gardening for local garden clubs and other groups. She recently led a monarch butterfly workshop for Stanislaus County and coordinated a milkweed seed dispersal program this last fall.
Rhonda is an avid California wildflower photographer and is currently working on a wildflower identification book for the Central California region.
Her work continues at the La Loma Native Garden, planting and maintaining the two-acre project. She is involved in planning for the 3rd annual Modesto Pollinator Festival, which will be held this year on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the La Loma Native Garden.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://cnps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpdO6urz4oH9EBTvT1DWJiSLMcXxBK1XvS