Restoration of the California Native Plant Demonstration Garden (CNPDG) is well underway in Florida Canyon at the heart of Balboa Park. Today, Florida Canyon has about 150 acres of the 1,400 acres of Balboa Park.

Florida Canyon might well be considered the backbone of Balboa Park because of its location and its relatively undeveloped character with chaparral and coastal sage scrub plant alliances. It is truly the “heart” of Balboa Park, for its location, its beauty and its history. The Friends of Florida Canyon want to preserve, protect and enhance the historic character of the canyon and ensure its beauty, diversity, trails that provide for physical fitness, and educational opportunities can be enjoyed by our children and grandchildren.

The CNPDG is located immediately west of the Balboa Tennis Center courts. The address for http://www.mapquest.com or your GPS device is: 2201 Morley Field Drive, San Diego 92104. The Thomas Guide coordinates are: 1249 C-6.

The garden is immediately south of the Upas and Alabama Streets intersection, on the driveway that comes off Morley Drive at the crest of the hill. The CNPDG is across from the parking lot from where people can park while their dogs are in the off-leash area. This is the prettiest parking lot in all of Balboa Park. There is a large picnic/sunbathing grass field on the west side of the parking lot (north of the off-leash dog area). This is our staging area.

Friends of Florida Canyon has a work party every second Sunday of the month, from 9:00 to 12:00 noon (the next is December 8th.) Friends of Florida Canyon welcomes all members of the public to help with a major Exotic Eradication Effort (EEE) on Mondays and Wednesdays (the next events are Monday, December 3rd and Wednesday, December 5th) that will start at 8:30 a.m. and go until noon. We would welcome your help. Come when you can and leave when you must. Wear sturdy soled closed-toed shoes or boots.

Alan Bennett [[email protected] (619-955-3275) is available to explain the project and/or provide directions.

Volunteers are reminded to BRING WATER! They are encouraged to bring work gloves and their favorite hand tool. Hand tools and water are provided by the San Diego Canyonlands and we can approve Community Service Hours.

And always remember: "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap (Slip on a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, Slap on a hat, Slop on sun block, and Wrap on sunglasses").