Fullerton City Hall’s exterior will soon be sporting a new look thanks to a joint project of Fullerton Beautiful Inc., a nonprofit community beautification organization, and the city’s Landscape Division.

The Fullerton City Council has approved the installation of a demonstration garden filled with drought-tolerant plants on the north side of City Hall.  Fullerton Beautiful, in turn, has donated $5,000 to the city to help fund the project.

Dennis Quinlivan, landscape superintendent for the city, explained the idea for the demonstration garden was originally proposed by the city’s Water Engineering Division to promote reduction in water use through drought-tolerant plantings.  However, no funding was available at the time and the project was shelved.

However, while working with Fullerton Beautiful on enhancing the existing succulent garden planted in front of the Police Department, Quinlivan mentioned the subject of the demonstration garden came up, and Fullerton Beautiful offered to pay half of the cost.  With the organization’s help, funds were found in the Maintenance Services Department budget to make the garden a reality.

Quinlivan said the demonstration garden will be located on both sides of the main walkway that leads from Amerige Avenue to City Hall’s north doors.  The garden will be installed in the middle planters adjacent to the bicycle lockers.

“We are planning on a combination of succulents, such as barrel cactus, aloe and agaves, and drought-tolerant perennials such as irises, lavender and western redbud,” Quinlivan said.  “We will work with Fullerton Beautiful to confirm the final plant palette and final location of various specimens.”

Quinlivan added that the intent “is to further familiarize the public with this type of low water usage planting so they can see how spectacular it can look.  Then, ultimately, we would incorporate it as the primary landscape theme of the Civic Center.”