About the Garden
The Napa Valley Chapter of CNPS maintains the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden in Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa. The garden is 3 acres of native plants that provide a wonderful environment for birds, butterflies and other visitors. If you are interested in exploring native plants that can be used in your garden or property, the garden has examples of many plants in their different types of settings (meadow, redwood forest, oak woodlands, etc.)
The garden is maintained by the Friends of Martha Walker Garden, a volunteer group. If you are interested in native plant habitat and gardening, join us in the garden. Kathleen Chasey, our Garden Curator, has extensive experience with native plant gardening and provides guidance on pruning, planting and other garden maintenance activities. Kathleen and the Friends of the MW Garden meet every Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information, call Kathleen at 707-320-8895 or email her at Kathleen@DTELandscapeDesign.com.
Garden Wish List
- garden volunteers giving 3-6 hours per month (choose your time)
- wheel barrels (solid wheels preferred)
- rustic bird baths
- 4ft 3/8" reebar for plant sign posts
- dry erase board for outdoor use
The Martha Walker Story
Martha Walker, originally from the Bay Area, Marin County, moved with her husband and four children to Napa in the early 1940’s. She had a natural love for the seasonal changes and the wonders of nature, which likely came from her mother. The latter’s botanical garden in Mill Valley was well known. Martha’s horticultural friends from that time visited here often after her move to Napa.
Throughout the years, Martha’s micro-gardening style evolved naturally. Her children describe the garden as a “free-form and least-disturbed layout.” A more traditional plan was applied when planting and tending their food gardens, especially the Victory Garden during the years of WW-II.
Shortly after moving to the valley, Martha shared her outgoing nature and wisdom with the public through her KVON talk show and her gardening column in the Napa Register, “Let’s Go Into the Garden”, which was intended to show the pleasures to be found in natural, self-designed gardening pursuits. Combining this with her weekly class taught at Napa College, “Adventures in Gardening," anyone with the slightest interest in seeing things grow would soon be “out there” creating his or her own garden.
Martha helped found the Napa Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and encouraged the Napa Valley Naturalists. She was an active member of the Sierra Club and was a member of the Napa-Solano Audubon Chapter, when it formed in 1971. She led numerous field trips and was a frequent speaker for her causes and an adamant advocate for senior citizens. She also helped drive the Napa library Bookmobile.
Her expanded interests included growing native plants for natural dyes for her weaving. She enjoyed the magic of the Recorder instrument. A culinary library came alive with her use, and was enhanced by her extensive herb garden. Calligraphy supplies were always on her worktable.
Of utmost importance was her passion for Esperanto, her second language, which she learned by mail in just one year! Martha continued improving her knowledge and skill of Esperanto by attending summer courses and conventions throughout the world, thus promoting its appeal. She believed it to be an international language that would carry on beyond translated differences and help the world reach a common understanding and peaceful co-existence. To further those beliefs, she taught classes in Esperanto at Napa College.
But Martha’s main interest and love was her gardening. Her influence is manifested in the work of her students, the organizations she helped start and her readers. All these people learned that harmony, good humor, love of nature, creativity; personal understanding and communication can contribute to a very rewarding way of life.
The Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden invites you to refresh your spirits by roaming the paths to see the native plants that were planted there by volunteers. Many hours have gone in to the planning and creation of the garden. It is still expanding through the efforts of current volunteers, many of whom never met Martha. During your exploration, have a seat on the carved bench placed in Martha’s honor beneath the old Valley Oak tree and enjoy the loveliness of the Garden above its own small valley. Martha passed away in 1983 at the age of 78.
Throughout the years, Martha’s micro-gardening style evolved naturally. Her children describe the garden as a “free-form and least-disturbed layout.” A more traditional plan was applied when planting and tending their food gardens, especially the Victory Garden during the years of WW-II.
Shortly after moving to the valley, Martha shared her outgoing nature and wisdom with the public through her KVON talk show and her gardening column in the Napa Register, “Let’s Go Into the Garden”, which was intended to show the pleasures to be found in natural, self-designed gardening pursuits. Combining this with her weekly class taught at Napa College, “Adventures in Gardening," anyone with the slightest interest in seeing things grow would soon be “out there” creating his or her own garden.
Martha helped found the Napa Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and encouraged the Napa Valley Naturalists. She was an active member of the Sierra Club and was a member of the Napa-Solano Audubon Chapter, when it formed in 1971. She led numerous field trips and was a frequent speaker for her causes and an adamant advocate for senior citizens. She also helped drive the Napa library Bookmobile.
Her expanded interests included growing native plants for natural dyes for her weaving. She enjoyed the magic of the Recorder instrument. A culinary library came alive with her use, and was enhanced by her extensive herb garden. Calligraphy supplies were always on her worktable.
Of utmost importance was her passion for Esperanto, her second language, which she learned by mail in just one year! Martha continued improving her knowledge and skill of Esperanto by attending summer courses and conventions throughout the world, thus promoting its appeal. She believed it to be an international language that would carry on beyond translated differences and help the world reach a common understanding and peaceful co-existence. To further those beliefs, she taught classes in Esperanto at Napa College.
But Martha’s main interest and love was her gardening. Her influence is manifested in the work of her students, the organizations she helped start and her readers. All these people learned that harmony, good humor, love of nature, creativity; personal understanding and communication can contribute to a very rewarding way of life.
The Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden invites you to refresh your spirits by roaming the paths to see the native plants that were planted there by volunteers. Many hours have gone in to the planning and creation of the garden. It is still expanding through the efforts of current volunteers, many of whom never met Martha. During your exploration, have a seat on the carved bench placed in Martha’s honor beneath the old Valley Oak tree and enjoy the loveliness of the Garden above its own small valley. Martha passed away in 1983 at the age of 78.
Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden
Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden
25th Anniversary Celebration!
Please join us on Sunday, September 26, as we celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the Martha Walker Native Plant Garden. We will be dedicating our new, artist designed South Entry Gate to garden founders, Ralph and Evelyne Ingols. The event will be from 2:00 to 4:00PM in the garden. Ralph Ingols is planning to join us for the event. Sparkling wine and tasty bites will be served. Following is the artists' model rendition of the new gate:
25th Anniversary Celebration!
Please join us on Sunday, September 26, as we celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the Martha Walker Native Plant Garden. We will be dedicating our new, artist designed South Entry Gate to garden founders, Ralph and Evelyne Ingols. The event will be from 2:00 to 4:00PM in the garden. Ralph Ingols is planning to join us for the event. Sparkling wine and tasty bites will be served. Following is the artists' model rendition of the new gate:
