VE N T U R A

B OTANICAL
GA R D E N S
A NEW LANDMARK FOR VENTURA COUNTY
MASTER VISION PLAN DOCUMENT

MIA LEHRER + ASSOCIATES

September 2010

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 1.2 Heart of the City
VENTURA PIER
The Ventura Botanical Gardens’ site is located right in the heart AMTRACK STATION
of Ventura, on 107 acres of the existing Grant Park’s hilly terrain, VENTURA CITY HALL

      
Ventura, home to the Ventura City Hall, the San Buenaventura
Mission, popular Main Street and many residential districts.

The site stands approximately 800 feet above the city and on
          
         
  !     "
pedestrians can visit the local Farmers Market, wander down a
coastline boardwalk in Promenade Park, have lunch on the Ventura
Pier and partake in one of many festivals and events concurrently
happening at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.The most well known
landmark on the site is the Serra Cross that stands tall looking
over the city. It is a replica of a cross placed in the same location
during the Mission Era. Visitors frequent the Serra Cross daily to GRANT PARK | 107 ACRES
pay homage to their city’s past while celebrating their future with
many events including weddings, memorials and religious functions.

The site is surrounded by undeveloped hillsides to the North and

East eventually connecting with the ever-expanding Los Padres
National Forest. The site is adjacent to the Ventura and Santa Clara
#     $  
combination of native plant material as well as an abundance of
invasive species.

$ % &  '%    

(
Values to ensure future development of the site will be sustainable
and respectful to the environmental factors of the region, the
'  
 " 
   )'
connection to downtown Ventura. Additionally, the Key Values
include community enhancements through education, aesthetics
and civic responsibility. N

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Chapter 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
8 VBG Vision Plan | September 2010 VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS INC.

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 5.4 The Concept:
Celebrating the Mediterranean
Biome rich, soft, dispersed
The Gardens will feature collections from the Mediterranean Biome, which is currently
one of the earth’s most endangered plant communities. The Mediterranean Basin has four
sister climates located throughout the world – places where latitude (between 30 and 45
degrees north or south of the equator) and relationship to the water (western coastal
6)9  )   $ :; <  tonal, distinct, mass
Mediterranean proper and parts of California, Chile, South Africa and Australia – together
comprise the Mediterranean biome. These locations share a distinctive climate pattern of
mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Although the species found in these disparate
areas are not genetically related, they share some common traits – such as waxy leaves
and deep tap roots – due to similar selective pressures.
 
 
The diagram shown to the right illustrates with aerial snapshots the similarities between
these ecotypes from above. The similar features of rugged coastlines and topographic
undulations clearly connect these zones when looking from above. Concurrently, while
these zones share many similarities, what is interesting is how each region has distinct
characteristics that separate themselves from the other Mediterranean biome zones. vibrant, diverse, primitive
California and the Mediterranean zones are both located in the northern hemisphere and
share many characteristics because their ecotypes are more dry and arid. In the southern
hemisphere zones, Cape and Chile have similar extreme topographical features and have
lush sub tropical type vegetative patterns. The Southern Australian zone is unique to the
other areas as its landforms and ecotypes are subtle in density and form but intensely
resilient.
uniform, constant, resilient

%  &            : ;     

collections of the individual plants found in the region but also as patterned landscapes
that one can view comprehensively from a distance.

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Chapter 5 CONCEPT & VISION
42 VBG Vision Plan | September 2010 VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS INC.

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 CONCEPT & VISION
Celebrating the Mediterranean Biome

Mediterranean Basin

California

VISION PLAN
North Hemisphere
South Hemisphere

Regions of Mediterranean type climate occur

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roughly between 30° and 40°
latitude on the west coasts of

V E N T U R A B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N S
continents, where there are offshore <l
o
cold ocean currents. Each Australia 0" d'
region in which the Mediterranean shrub lands and l0
woodlands occur, is island-like in character and
Chile
thus there is frequently a high degree
of endemism. Comparative studies of Cape
the several regional expressions of this biome reveal
interesting examples of convergent
evolution in plant families
and birds on the different continents.

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 W. WAR
N ER ST.

CONCEPT & VISION

The Vision Plan
W. BAR
NETT ST.
SHOOTING
W. KEL
LO GG ST RANGE
LEGEND

VEHICULAR ROADS

VEHICULAR CONNECTIONS VIA W. RAM

O NE ST.
DOWNTOWN CORE

ABANDONED VEHICULAR ROADS

FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ONLY
W. SIM
(SHUTTLES, STAFF + EMERGENCY PS ON ST.
VEHICLES ALLOWED)

EET

VISION PLAN
PEDESTRIAN TRAILS

STR
AR
CED
W. CEN
TER ST.
PEDESTRIAN PLAZAS/ NODES

LANE ABANDONMENT FOR

PARALLEL PARKING W. PRO
SP ECT. ST.

STAFF + MAINTENANCE

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PARKING AREA

V E N T U R A B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N S
o
E

FACILITY BUILDINGS
U
AVEN
TURA

SEEDLING CAGES + .
DR.
o
N. VEN

SERRA RO
MAINTENANCE AREAS CROSS FER

.
RD
MAINTENANCE OFFICE + SUMMIT DR.

EY
AK
SSTAFF STORAGE AREA
STA

BR
WATER
STORAGE

SNACK + INFORMATION
KIOSKS

N. KALORAMA ROAD
500 ft
0

200 ft CITY HALL

N
POLI STREET

e vi e
rreviewew document
wd on
ocument onlyPOLI STREET

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14
 GARDENS & COLLECTIONS
W. WAR
N ER ST.

Collections Map W. BAR MEDITERRANEAN

N ETT ST.
COLLECTION
SHOOTING
The Ramble traverses the entire site, from the W. KEL RANGE
LO GG ST
entrance to its highest peak, connecting with all the
collections along the way. The California Collection
is at the western end of the site; the Chile Collection
W. RAM
O NE ST.
is east of California, bridging a canyon. The Cape
Collection is still further east, with the Australian
Collection at the eastern edge of the site. At the LE discovery promontory
W. SIM
PS ON ST. AMB
elevated northern extreme of the site sits the ER

VISION PLAN
TH
Mediterranean Basin Collection.

EET
STR
W. CEN

AR
TE R ST.

CED
CALIFORNIA AUST
AUSTRALALLIA
AUSTRALIAN IIA
AN
A N
COLLECTION COLLECT
C OLLEC
CTTI
CTTIO
COLLECTIONIOONN
W. PRO CAPE
CAPE
SP ECT. ST.
LEGEND COLLECTION
COLLECTION
O LECTION
OLLECTIO N

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heritage promontory
CJ THE RAMBLE
urban
urb
rb
rb
baa
ann pr
pro
p
promontory
ro
omontory
om
o monto
ontor
ont
on
nt y

V E N T U R A B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N S
U
AVEN
CJ CALIFORNIA COLLECTION CHIL
CHILE
CH
HILLEE

TURA
. COLLECTION
COLLECTION
OL ECTIO
ECTION
CTIO
C
CTI
ION
N. VEN
SERRA DR.
RO
.. CHILE COLLECTION CROSS
FER

.
RD
EY
CAPE COLLECTION

AK
SUMMIT DR.

BR
WATER
STORAGE
.. MEDITERRANEAN COLLECTION

N. KALORAMA ROAD
CJ AUSTRALIA COLLECTION

CITY HALL
500 ft

POLI STREET POLI STREET

0

200 ft
N

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Chapter 6 GARDENS & COLLECTIONS
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 PROGRAMS
The Garden Door

In the Australian Collection Zone the existing

Eucalytpus and Pine trees offers a unique tree
canopy. Visitors walking along this zone will be
able to interact with Australian species that include
some of the most resilient Mediterranean varieties.
Birds will be abundant in this area providing for a
great canvas to promote bird watching corridors

VISION PLAN
for groups and individuals to enjoy daily.

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 PROGRAMS
Empower Generations

The Discovery Zone is meant to immerse families,

children and individuals within an interactive
environment to encourage learning about the
region’s plant and wildlife systems in greater
detail. Seedling Cages are located in the Children
Discovery Day camp where they can learn hands-
on techniques to propagate, plant and grow their

VISION PLAN
own native plants and trees.

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 PROGRAMS
Learning Destination

Essential to public engagement within the natural

environment, an outdoor theater classroom
provides versatility to function as classroom,
lecture and performance venue, and informal
gathering space. Settled into its surrounding
environment, the design and construction should
be light on the land while promoting sustainable

VISION PLAN
building practices.

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 PROGRAMS
Cafe + View Terrace

> ?6)  ?) )"   

 @  
Community Center, and atop the Discovery Promontory and the Cape Collection, sits the Cafe and View Terrace. From this vantage point one
        " "J  % " %    ;  
"
Chilean to the south, Australia to the southeast, California to southwest and Mediterranean to the north.
image before

VISION PLAN
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 PROGRAMS
The Ramble Entrance Plaza

Adjacent to the west side of City Hall pedestrians can walk directly from downtown and access the botanical garden
via Brakey Road. Currently, Brakey Road is a deteriorating asphalt road connecting to Ferro Road that leads to the
   )) " %    &#  )  
"
denying access to public vehicles. The pedestrian visitor will be able to safely access the botanical gardens without
the interruption of vehicles. The existing stone arch that currently reaches across Brakey Road will be protected
image before
and restored to serve as a dynamic pedestrian gateway leading to the Ramble Collection Zone.

VISION PLAN
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 PROGRAMS
Ethnobotany

Q ?          

relationships between people and plants. Modern
Ethnobotanists of the 20th century focus their image before
study on anthropological training combined with
horticultural knowledge to identify traditional
  )  ? )     
unique connection between the Chumash People
of Southern California and the colonization of the
Spanish during the Mission Era of the late 1800’s,
the Ventura Botanical Gardens Vision Plan calls for

VISION PLAN
an ethnobotany garden that celebrates both of
these profound cultures.

Ethobotanical Plants of the Chumash People:

Common Yarrow- used to reduce mouth pain
Agave, Century Plant- used for string and sweet juice
Allium, Wild Onion- used as insect repellent

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Baccharis, Coyote Brush- remedy for poison oak

V E N T U R A B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N S
California Poppy- remedy for lice and stomachache

Ethobotanical Plants of the Mission Period:

Salvia, White Sages- used as a decongestant
Artemesia, Sagebrush- chewed/smoked for cold remedy
Woodwardia, Fern- used as blood coagulant
Mallow, Bush Mallow- used to ease nausea
Wooly Blue Curls- used for stomach ailments

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 PROGRAMS
Water Story

A child who plays is also learning, and children love

playing with water. Simultaneously promoting on
          
resources, through playful interaction with water,
the garden will teach the relevance of protecting
this vital part of our environment to children and
visitors of all ages. By better management practices

VISION PLAN
and sustainable design solutions, a water play area
will be a successful and interactive addition to the
garden.

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