Water Conservation Garden

This is probably the cutest garden in the east county. As well as the prettiest place on Cuyamaca College lol. It’s so blissful and calming. I love to watch butterflies pass from flower to flower it’s truly magical. If it wasn’t for my college professor I wouldn’t even bother walking in here so thanks professor :)

This place is adorable! My husband had to come here for a college course and we’re pretty pumped about it– we had no idea this place even existed! It’s so much larger than it even seems from the front, you could spend a good hour wandering around, checking out the exhibits and reading the signs (informative and incredibly interesting).
If you have ANY intention of landscaping your own garden/​yard in a beautiful and eco-​friendly way, please come here first. We lowly apartment renters can only dream, but those of you with yards would really benefit from a visit here.
We came in the morning so it was pretty quiet/​empty, but I can imagine it would be beautiful and quite romantic at night, what with the beautiful trees and twinkly lights. I’m thinking date night, people…

Fantastic place with enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff! I’ve been here 3 times and am very impressed with the gardens and helpful suggestions by the staff members. I have integrated many concepts into my own yard as a result :)
I also think it would be a great event location!

I came here mid week when I was in the area and was very pleasantly surprised. I only spent about 45 minutes Inside but enjoyed myself. The grounds are kept beautifully and there is lots of Information to be learned.

I love visiting the gardens here! There is so much beauty.
I took my daughter to their Butterfly Festival and we both really enjoyed it, especially seeing the Butterfly exhibit.

This is such a wonderful place to talk a stroll. Literally we took our jogger stroller there. Everyone that we did see were very helpful that day since there was a symphony that was getting ready to perform. We started from the amphitheater parking lot and worked our way around and down to the gift shop past the baby koi and Lilly pad pond and back up. Great for random picnic day. It’s a hot summer day but still very quiet and feels like you’re off the beaten path exploring. Some dirt pathways some cement, some stairs, some ramps depends on where you want to walk. Saw lots of birds, butterflies, dragon flies, squirrels, bees, tadpoles, and gold fish. Overall we had a wonderful time go check out this hidden zen nature spot!

Not too shabby, San Diego. So where can you go when you want to learn about water conservation, kill time, do a project for class or just wander in a pseudo-​zen-​like environment that is both educational as well as relaxing? The Water Conservation Garden. What else makes it great? It’s free!
Located on the Cuyamaca College Campus, this hidden gem is a great place to kill some time while learning about ways to conserve water and inspire ways to incorporate botany into your home.
The place is divided into several various gardens each with an information plaque. Each section has some information and inspiration for the homeowner or individual looking to get into horticulture in some capacity or another.
There are too many exhibits to list but it’s definitely worthy of a relaxing visit or stroll just to take a breather. you’ll find a little shop to buy various plants, exhibits that give information on various grass options and their average water usage, ways to organize plants and foliage in your yard to control climate, ways to protect your house from fire, create desert landscapes, compost, choose gravels and stonework, minimize water usage and all sorts of other conservation and decoration tips. There are even a couple places to take a seat and just relax and maybe even eat a sandwich. I saw an older couple just chillin’ at a table, eating lunch and talking. You couldn’t beat the weather and you could beat the relaxing feeling of taking in the surrounding area. Call it as close to a mild feeling of zen as you’re going to get in Rancho San Diego.
So if you’re near the campus drop by and check it out. What do you have to lose?

Terrible! My son left in tears! We came to the butterfly festival to see butterflies and it was full 3 hours before closing. They also shut down face painting 2 hours before closing. Sad mommy and baby!

Hey locals. This is in your backyard. While you’re in the stripmall across the street, there’s a really cool place to come check out. It’s a 5 minute or 4 hour kind of place. Fun to talk, great place to learn about our own ecology. Plenty of back yard ideas, new ways, old ways and ways you never heard of. Check it out… you’ll feel surprised you never saw it before.

We loved it so much there that we did your wedding ceremony there. It was beautiful and so peaceful. The people that work there were really helpful. The flowers and gardens photography perfectly.

It was a nice place to visit and bring the kids. It was small enough to walk around the whole place in about 20 minutes, if you don’t read all the signs about the plants. Great place to learn about succulents and other plants good for water conservation. We had a picnic in a covered area and were able to let the kids run around and play. Great place for beautiful pictures. We got some very nice pictures with the kids in the gazebo.

This is really two reviews in one~ but in both cases, the Garden gets 5 stars.
The garden itself is lovely, curated perfectly, with many cozy spaces as well as really informative displays for both children and adults. It’s one of the best I’ve seen. The gift shop has both charming little knic-​knacks and helpful resources for local gardeners and nature-​lovers.
My daughter was recently married there and I listened to rave after positive rave from guests regarding the venue. Her experience with garden staff pre-​event was delightful, as was mine as we ended the evening. They are helpful, professional, and very nice. I’m thinking of a reason to use the venue again. It’s perfect in every way, even on a day that was crazy hot.

If you’re a fan of California natives, succulents, and other sustainable plants, this is the place for you. Even if you’re not, this place might open your eyes to the possibilities. The garden is pretty large and is well organized. Plus, it has a lot of interesting literature along the way and the staff are super friendly. We spent a couple hours here a few weeks back and got a bunch of good ideas that we plan to apply to our yard. Plus, it’s donation only so you can pay what you can afford. If you’re in the El Cajon area, we highly recommend this place.

The beautiful succulents, indigenous plants, as well as those from other countries seem very happy in this wonderful environment. Nice walking paths and clear labeling of plants and shrubs. A great place to learn about plants and to simply relax. Knowledgeable and friendly staff as well as good events on a wide range of topics.

Secret gem for exploring with your kids or to have an important adult event.

This place is only pleasant to walk around for a while and check things out, but it is also very informative. In fact, once a year I bring my third grade students hear for a study trip.
If you are thinking of landscaping or xeriscaping your yard, this place is a must to visit before you start. Even if you are just planning to add a few plants to your garden, you should visit this place.
Given that we import 90% of our water here in Southern California, it is important that we conserve water smartly. The Conservation Garden has a variety of ideas from drought tolerant plants to different types of ideas for mulches to use to help conserve water.
They regularly have tours and demonstrations for the general public. They also have an on-​sight nursery as well.

The kids love this place! Giant pencil sculpture, giant pipe with pond and critters in it, moving water thingies, a path with hidden woodland creature sculptures and a play cabin, plus lots of nature.
Oh, and you can also learn how to use water-​wise plants. Or just enjoy the gardens.
There are also various workshops throughout the year. We had a landscape plan done for free one year, but then we moved so we couldn’t implement it.

I ventured out to the Garden during one of their festivals. This is a nice little gem in Rancho SD. Admission is free and the trails are pretty. It makes for a cool zen spot.
On the other hand, if you opt not to zen out and bring the kids instead, they can enjoy it too. There are little activities at the exhibits that are hands-​on. There’s a cool little section of «touch and smell» plants like lavender and lamb’s ear.
If you go during one of their festivals, they give out lots of free info including free landscaping consultations (bring your yard dimensions). Also, if you don’t already know, East County is wicked hot in the summer time. Bring water.

Growing up almost anywhere in California you know all about droughts and how we’re supposed to conserve water. We all know about all the tricks inside the home but what about the great outdoors? This garden provides many working examples and applicable ideas on how to grow/​maintain a functional garden while conserving water. I can tell you this place is an eye opening crash course education and proof that function and vanity can coexist. Plus it also turns out its an excellent place to take kids who are under the age of 6 or so.
The outline of this place is a leisurely stroll along the grounds. Low water plants, water systems, native plants and plant alternatives are all highlighted along the course as well as hands on exhibits such as a compost pile, a smell garden and a small house and trail for really little kids. Pretty sights such as the gazebo area and the bird and butterfly garden give you another reason to bring a camera. There is even a «potted plant garden» which can put overly inspired ideas in the brain of an apartment dweller like myself.
The gift shop has some interesting items (and a healthy children’s section that has plenty of age appropriate items for kids up to about ten) and features a plant sale a couple items a year. The garden is open to the public 9 to 4 seven days a week with longer hours in the summer. Go before you remodel the yard.

Planning to start a garden but don’t want to plant water hungry plants that will raise your water bill in drought prone SoCal? Most people don’t realize that the biggest water guzzler in most SoCal homes isn’t inside the house, but outside in the form of lush grasses that were adapted for cooler and wetter climates. When you are ready to shed your lawn addiction and ready to start a garden that makes fiscal and environmental sense, then visit the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.
There is no admission to enter and you will learn a lot more about water conservation landscaping and techniques than you would visiting your local Home Depot. Do not start dropping money on landscaping projects and irrigation systems until you after you visit this great resource.
At the Water Conservation Garden, you will find various displays of water-​wise flora and irrigation systems. They will also provide classes and tours, and they provide the information in a way that is hands on and very family friendly. Even your kids will have fun visiting.
Twice a year, during March and May, they will offer plant sales that offer a wide variety of plants adapted to our our arid climate. Among the plants available are California natives, Mediterranean climate plants, and a wide variety of cactus and succulents. The gift shop also sells succulents in unique pottery made by the volunteers that run the place year round.
My favorite sections of the garden include the section that shows you how large a tree will grow, the outdoor amphitheater and the succulent plantings. If you follow the path that winds through the garden, you will be able to read and even touch and smell all the useful landscaping tips they have to offer. The kids will be entertained with the topiary and giant sculptures. Its like a botanical garden and amusement park rolled into one.
The only downside to this place is that’s its in El Cajon and a bit of a drive from San Diego. With gas prices so high these days, make sure to bring a group with you on your visit. It should be mandatory that every city in SoCal should have a display garden like this. It can also get very hot during the summer months. I would recommend visiting the garden between Winter and Spring.
Parking is free and plentiful, except during the twice a year plant sales.