Wildlife Oasis – Neil Cummins Native Habitat Garden
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Garden Features
Drought Tolerant
Edible Garden
California Natives
Deer Resistant
Drip Irrigation
Pesticide Free
Rainwater Harvesting System
Sheet Mulching
Lawn-Free Landscaping
Wildlife Habitat
The Neil Cummins Native Habitat Garden and the Hawks’ Garden are two beautiful outdoor spaces to visit in Corte Madera.
The Neil Cummins Native Habitat Garden, nestled along the fence next to the holding pond in Corte Madera Town Park, is a stunning oasis of nature that provides a haven for local wildlife. This garden was designed with sustainability in mind, featuring drought-tolerant native plants that provide food and shelter for birds and insects throughout the year.
The Native Habitat Garden, along with the Monarch Waystation, also serves as a valuable resource for the Western Monarch butterfly, with native milkweed for egg-laying and nectar plants for feeding. The Town of Corte Madera and the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District played key roles in bringing the garden to life, with the Town providing the land and the school district providing the water. The garden was designed by Dan Dufficy of CNL Native Plant Nursery, an expert in habitat gardening who advocates for organic and indigenous gardening methods.
The Neil Cummins Hawks’ Garden, located just on the other side of the fence on the school campus, is a 2,000 square foot outdoor learning space for students. It includes galvanized metal planters, wooden planters, and in-ground beds. Edible plants and pollinator plants are interspersed throughout the garden to provide opportunities for students to learn about food crops and ecosystems. The garden was established by the Neil Cummins Elementary PTO in 2016 and includes a designated pollinator garden and ADA compliant features.
The Hawks’ Garden features a food-growing area with galvanized tubs and wine barrels planted with vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Pollinator-friendly flowering plants, such as borage, nasturtiums, and sunflowers, are interspersed with the food crops. There are also wooden garden beds and an in-ground area dedicated to pollinator-friendly plants, including California natives and wildflowers. Fruit trees, including fig, lemon, lime, pomegranate, and apple, can also be found within the garden.
The Neil Cummins Native Habitat Garden and the Hawks’ Garden are both unique and valuable outdoor spaces to visit in Corte Madera. The Native Habitat Garden provides a model for sustainable gardening that benefits both people and local wildlife, while the Hawks’ Garden serves as a valuable learning space for students. These gardens offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in nature and discover the beauty of the local flora and fauna.









Plants in this Garden
Favorite Plants
Ceanothus spp
Mimulus aurantiacus - Sticky Monkey Flower
California fuschia
Favorite Garden Suppliers
CNL Native Plant Nursery
254 Shoreline Highway Mill Valley
Green Jeans Nursery
690 Redwood Highway Mill Valley