Photo: BrightViewBrightView worked together with more than 200 volunteers from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Orange County’s Helping Hands Committee to create an interactive learning garden.
The landscaping company also partnered with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to improve the facilities of Oso Lake in Mission Viejo, California. The campground is used for various purposes by more than 40,000 children each year, including the BSA.
The Helping Hands Committee wanted to create an open space that serves as both an outdoor classroom and native garden, and with BrightView’s Design, Development, Tree Care and Maintenance teams, this goal was achieved.
The garden features different plant communities including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian, oak woodland and a meadow area. The 22,000-square-foot garden has trails that are connected to different the ecosystems and blends them together as they would naturally appear in California.
Photo: BrightView“People often have a misconception that California native plants are all succulents and dry landscapes, but there is so much more,” said Humberto Delgadillo, a designer at BrightView responsible for designing the garden. “This garden will introduce visitors to California’s native plant communities and motivate them to get involved in conservation and environmental stewardship.”
BrightView’s Tree Care, Design Group and Development teams donated $4,000 to purchase the plant material needed for the job and the company also sourced the donation and installation of a fully solar-powered irrigation system.
BrightView teams provided grading, equipment and labor while working with the group of 200 volunteers from IREM to install the garden.
The Boy Scouts will use the space a place where members can earn sustainability badges, as well as learn about careers in landscaping and horticulture. BrightView says that it plans to regularly send employees from various parts of the industry to speak to groups about their profession.
“We were beyond excited to partner with IREM Helping Hands and the Boy Scouts of America on their Oso Lake project,” said Autumn Rau, vice president and general manager at BrightView. “This garden was designed and installed with the intent to have a hugely positive impact on many children for years to come.”
The garden will also be named after BrightView, as the Boy Scouts wanted to recognize the business for all of its contributions on the project.
