The Donald L. Dear West Basin MWD Headquarters in Carson, CA is redefining commercial and public landscaping in Southern California. This Ocean Friendly Demonstration Garden is populated entirely with California native and climate-appropriate plants, irrigated with drip irrigation, and maintained in a natural form. West Basin employees have expressed delight with the way the plants have filled in this spring, as the annual rains finally appeared to replenish the soil water reservoir.
Arbutus 'Marina' Greets Visitors at West Basin Headquarters
G3’s design included plant groups of Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus in various combinations for sun, shade, tall, wide, groundcover, etc. The leaf structure repeats itself with various climate-appropriate groundcover infill, creating a pleasing repetition throughout the property. The architectural quality of the Palo Verde trees at the street and Arbutus ‘Marina’ at the building entrance create a tension with the somewhat austere exterior of the building, recently updated for the dedication to Director Dear. The overall effect is a highly functional office building nestled within a verdant and flowering garden.
Plant Groups Repeat Throughout The Property
Many commercial property stewards are unaware of the beauty of Southern California native plants, and so end up with the ubiquitous landscapes comprised of green lawn, New Zealand flax, agapanthus, and society garlic.
“Many people think that California native plants are dry, gray, drab plants for at least part of the year,” commented G3’s lead designer on the project and Founding Member, Marilee Kuhlmann. “This landscape should disabuse people of that idea. They walk around this garden and see the dark green leaves, architectural red trunks of the arctostaphylos, and flowering perennials all year round. Most visitors can’t believe it’s a California native garden because it is so contrary to their pre-conceived notions.”
Who Needs Non-Natives?
“G3 is in the business of changing the ideal of beauty from resource-guzzling grass to this diverse, fragrant, magnificent landscape,” says Pamela Berstler, G3 Managing Member. “West Basin MWD has been on the forefront of redefining the new commercial landscape in Southern California. Their Donald L. Dear Headquarters is one of several Ocean Friendly Demonstration Gardens G3 has designed for them, and I think the success with something so close to home has helped West Basin to become strong advocates for Conservation, Permeability, and Retention, the principles of Ocean Friendly gardening.”
Ocean Friendly Gardens Use C.P.R.
The Donald L. Dear Headquarters landscape is open to the public, and is easily viewed from the street.
“It’s just a beautiful garden,” adds Kuhlmann, “but, the best part is that it has reduced water use by 80%, and is reducing pollution by holding on to water running off some of the hard surfaces. This commercial landscape is both functional AND beautiful.” 
The Donald L. Dear West Basin MWD Headquarters Ocean Friendly Garden is located at 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson, CA 90746 MAP
