Los Guilicos Demonstration and Teaching Garden

In the valley below the Mayacamas, Master Gardener John Dennis (far right) shares Los Guilicos history during a Master Gardener meeting. Photos by Sonoma County Master Gardeners.

History

Los Guilicos, with its rich agricultural history, is an important part of Sonoma County history and represents a great opportunity for Sonoma County Master Gardeners to help steward the beautiful site and help shape its future. The property where the UC Master Gardener of Sonoma County Demonstration and Teaching Garden is located is the ancestral homeland of the Coast Miwok, Pomo and Wappo Peoples who have lived there continuously for more than 10,000 years. The name Los Guilicos is a Coast Miwok word for the Wappo Village that once was located east of the property along Calabazas Creek.  

Additional Los Guilicos history resources:

• Los Guilicos Site History Timeline compiled by Master Gardener John Dennis
• November 2020 article The History We Nearly Lost at Los Guilicos by Historian Katherine J. Rinehart
• January 2020 Press Democrat article The forgotten and surprising history of Los Guilicos

In the press 

• October 2023 Press Democrat article From out of the ashes A CHILDREN’S GARDEN REGROWS
• March 2023 License agreement announcement and press release

Community Support

We appreciate the generosity of the following businesses, individuals, and service organizations:   

• Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary helped construct a three-bin compost area and built a shade structure with poles donated by Cimino Electric.
• Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50 brought a crew that spread over 40 yards of mulch.
• Cal Flora Nursery provided generous discounts for plants in the “Five Senses” area of The Children’s Garden.
• Coldwater Creek Compost and Soils Plus donated soil.    
• Hunter Industries and Wyatt Irrigation Supply covered material costs for our irrigation system. 
• Image Tree Services staff removed and chipped fire-damaged, dangerous trees and donated compost and mulch for The Children’s Garden. 
• SRJC instructor Kristine Loomis and students from her irrigation class helped install the irrigation system in The Children’s Garden.  

Where we’ve been

A new irrigation system, renovated garden beds, and ADA paths are some of the many renovations volunteers have made at Los Guilicos. Photos by Sonoma County Master Gardeners.

Key accomplishments include:

• Installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation system in The Children’s Garden.
• Removal of fire-damaged trees and shrubs and ongoing brush management
• Installation of ADA-compliant pathways into and around The Children’s Garden.
• Restoration of The Children’s Garden.
• Master Gardener volunteers conducted a BioBlitz to map and identify existing plants, animals, insects, and fungi. 
• First annual Jamboree event in October 2023 to celebrate the opening of The Children’s Garden.

Where we’re going

The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County's vision is to “Cultivate environmental stewardship one garden at a time.” The Los Guilicos Demonstration and Teaching Garden will be a place where Master Gardener volunteers can demonstrate, teach, and apply science-based home gardening practices that are adaptable to our changing climate.    

In the immediate future, we plan to: 

• Apply for and receive grant funding to develop additional demonstration and teaching gardens outlined in our Master Plan.
• Seek community partnerships to help implement our Master Plan.
• Create a Sustainable Gardening public education program.
• Partner with local businesses and organizations to hold volunteer workdays and educational events.
• Continue fulfilling the purpose of The Children’s Garden:
  • Deliver fresh produce for children at VMCC (Valley of the Moon Children’s Center).
  • Expand and enhance our school field trip program throughout the next school year, including bus transportation. For information about school field trips at The Children’s Garden, visit our homepage.