Learn About Native Plants and Orange County’s Ranching History at the New Bommer Canyon Nature Garden

Bommer Canyon Nature Garden before & after restoration work. Images courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

The City of Irvine and Irvine Ranch Conservancy welcome nature lovers to experience the new Bommer Canyon Nature Garden, where visitors can learn about native habitats, local plant life, Orange County’s rich ranching history and why the area developed into a nature preserve. 

Originally overrun by weeds and invasive plant species, the area located near the Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp was designated as the perfect site for an interpretive nature garden, so visitors can learn more about why Orange County’s native wildlands are an important part of the local ecosystem. The Bommer Canyon Nature Garden will take visitors on a journey through the history of the Irvine Ranch, guided by interpretive informational panels installed by IRC’s Planning and Infrastructure team. These panels will help visitors learn more about ranching techniques and old cattle camp equipment, as well as native plants from local coastal sage scrub, riparian and grassland habitat.

Helping bring the Nature Garden to life, IRC volunteers worked with the City of Irvine and dedicated their time to keeping the area healthy by weeding, keeping trails clear, planting and tending to the garden plants, and will continue their efforts to help keep the area healthy. With the trails and plants now well established, the Bommer Canyon Nature Garden is ready to become a favorite amongst other destinations on the Landmarks and is open for self-guided access as part of the seven-day access trails.

For more information about the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and restoration efforts on the Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org. For more information about the City of Irvine open space, visit CityOfIrvine.org.