Gardening

The Alcatraz Historic Gardens with the Rock's famed water tower in the background.

'Historic' water once meant for laundry now helps Alcatraz Gardens thrive

Shelagh Fritz, Program Manager for Alcatraz Historic Gardens, has worked to install an innovative rainwater catchment system on the Rock. We sat down with Shelagh to learn more.

Black Point Historic Gardens

When: Thursdays, 2–5 & Fridays, 9 am–Noon; 1st Saturdays, 10 am–1 pm
Where: Fort Mason, San Francisco
Help us restore the long-neglected gardens of East Black Point, a spectacular park site tucked away above the bustling San Francisco waterfront.

Our (Not-So) Secret Recipe for Making National Park-Quality Soil

On a crisp morning in April, the Parks Conservancy and the Presidio Trust made in a 46-cubic yards of soil, enough to feed tens of thousands of native plants throughout the parks. The “recipe” and procedure behind this many-handed effort is a must-read for any dirt devotee.

Alcatraz Historic Gardens

When: Wednesdays and Thursday, 8am–Noon | Help restore and maintain gardens once tended by the island’s military and penitentiary residents, bringing living color and vibrancy to the Rock.