BlakeGardenistheteachingandresearchgardenoftheUCBerkeleyDepartmentofLandscapeArchitectureandEnvironmentalPlanning.ThegardenisalearninglaboratoryforstudentsfromUC,localcolleges,andotherareaschools.Inadditiontocoursework,studentshavetheopportunityforhands-onlearningandtoobservetheeffectsoftheenvironmentwhendesigningoutdoorspace.Untiltheearly1920’s,theBlakefamilyhomewaslocatedonthesiteoftheUCMemorialStadium.Theuniversitypurchasedthelandfromthefamilyin1922.HarrietWatersStiles,wifeofCharlesThompsonBlake,divideda45-acreparcelsheownedinKensingtonamongherfourchildren.TwosiblingssoldtheirpropertyforresidentialdevelopmentbutAnsonandEdwinBlakebuilthomesontheirlots,today,BlakeGardenandtheCarmeliteMonastery.MabelSymmes,anearlystudentintheCallandscapearchitectureprogram,andhersister,AnitaDayBlake,designedthegardens.ThedesignforFormalGardenwasinspiredbyItalianvillagardensandmadeuseofthehousebothasshelterfromthestrongwindscomingthroughtheGoldenGateandasanaxisfortheparterresandpool.TheRedwoodCanyon,plantedwithcuttingsfromtheBlake’spropertiesinBerkeleyandSt.Helena,isthesiteofayearroundstream.Symmes’originaldesignincludedalakeintheAustralianHollow,takingadvantageofthehighwatertableinthatpartofthegarden.In2010,UCstudents,volunteers,andBlakegardenstaffrestoredthisareatoaCalifornianativewetland.ThissectionnowprovideshabitattoacommunityofPacificChorusfrogsandareabirds.Othersectionsofthegardeninclude:theMediterraneanGardenonthewesternsideofthehouse,whichhighlightsplantsfromtheworld’sMediterraneanclimates;theCottageGarden,whereroses,vegetables,andherbsminglewithflowersforcutting;theSquareGardenwhereMagnoliasandlowwaterperennialssurroundasquarepool,andtheEventLawn,usedforUniversityfunctionsaswellasbypicnickingvisitors.The‘CreatewithNatureZone’isaspaceforpeopleofallagestoexperimentandbuildusingmaterialscollectedinthegarden.Thegardenishometomorethan1000plantspecies,overfiftybirdspecies,aswellasraccoons,frogs,salamanders,andtheoccasionalfox.Forfurtherinformation,includingvolunteeropportunitiesandtours,pleasecontactGardenManager,MeghanRayatmeghanray@berkeley.eduorcall510-524-2449.Visitthegardenwebsiteathttps://blakegarden.ced.berkeley.eduText:DawnKooyumijan-2012Updated:M.Ray–2018