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Clovis Botanical Garden

Water wise landscaping for the California Central Valley

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About the Garden

Visit the Garden

Hours

Open: Wednesday – Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesday, and select holidays

***The Garden has no paid employees; it is operated solely by volunteers.

Location

Clovis Botanical Garden
945 N Clovis Ave Clovis, CA 93611
(between Alluvial & Nees)
Click the address to popup a Google Map.

Mailing Address: 1865 Herndon Ave, Ste K Box 330 Clovis, CA 93611

(559) 298-3091
[email protected]

Cost

Admission to the Garden is free for children and adults.
Donations are welcomed and appreciated.
Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Dogs are welcome on a leash.

Tours

For $5 a person, guided tours can be scheduled two weeks in advance by emailing the garden. Tours are available for groups of four to ten people. Staff is available to lead tours at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Check the Event schedule on the webpage for specially scheduled tours on some Saturdays. 

School groups must have minimum supervision of one adult per 10 students. The white canopy may be reserved for lunch or lessons in the event visiting staff have prepared something additional for their group.

Professional Photographers

The garden is pleased to welcome photo shoots in the garden. The garden requests a donation of $25 from professional photographers. Everyone wants to get that special shot, but please remember to stay on the pathways and out of the planting beds. If you wish to take photos in the garden outside of the garden hours, please email the garden in advance to see if a volunteer is available to accommodate your request.

Garden Maps

Download Garden Map (PDF)
Download Trees of the Garden (PDF)

How You Can Help

Become a Member of CBG

Supporting the garden will help ensure its preservation. With your support through membership dues, we can continue to develop the garden and its services.

become a
member

Volunteer at the Garden

Without dedicated volunteers giving freely of their time and talents, the Clovis Botanical Garden would not exist. We encourage and invite you to become a volunteer.

Learn about
Volunteering

The History of Clovis Botanical Garden

The Clovis Botanical Garden grew out of an idea presented to the Clovis City Council by Gordon Russell in 1993.
The first meeting of directors was held in 1994 and by 1995 legal non-profit status was granted to the Clovis
Botanical Garden Committee, Inc.

The beginning

1993 – 1995

The Clovis Botanical Garden grew out of an idea presented to the Clovis City Council by Gordon Russell in 1993.
The first meeting of directors was held in 1994 and by 1995 legal non-profit status was granted to the Clovis
Botanical Garden Committee, Inc.

A suitable site was located on Clovis city park land in 1998. After many meetings and determination on the part of Gordon and committed volunteers, the site was approved by the City Council in July 2001.

Site approved

2001

A suitable site was located on Clovis city park land in 1998. After many meetings and determination on the part of Gordon and committed volunteers, the site was approved by the City Council in July 2001.

Then city council member Patricia Wynne and Planning Director John Wright suggested a one-acre pilot project as a start. State Assemblyman Mike Briggs facilitated a state grant and ground was broken in March 2002.

Groundbreaking

March 2002

Then city council member Patricia Wynne and Planning Director John Wright suggested a one-acre pilot project as a start. State Assemblyman Mike Briggs facilitated a state grant and ground was broken in March 2002.

The California Garden Club planted the first tree, a valley oak in November of 2002. It is called the Freedom Tree to commemorate 9/11/2001 paying tribute to the heroes and victims of the day.

First tree planted

November 2002

The California Garden Club planted the first tree, a valley oak in November of 2002. It is called the Freedom Tree to commemorate 9/11/2001 paying tribute to the heroes and victims of the day.

The Garden opened to the public as volunteers began greeting visitors on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons with the garden’s first shade structure. On 4/16/2004 a ribbon-cutting was held to commemorate the completion of the 1-acre garden.

Garden opened to the public

April 2004

The Garden opened to the public as volunteers began greeting visitors on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons with the garden’s first shade structure. On 4/16/2004 a ribbon-cutting was held to commemorate the completion of the 1-acre garden.

The garden received a grant from the Dept of Water Resources helped fund the improvement of the garden with irrigation, signs, pathways, and roads.

Dept of Water Resources Grant

July 2005

The garden received a grant from the Dept of Water Resources helped fund the improvement of the garden with irrigation, signs, pathways, and roads.

Garden was open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00. There was an increase in visitors and requests for tours.
A plan for expanding to a four-acre garden was proposed in 2008. When Dry Creek Park was completed in 2009 the entrance was moved from Clovis Ave to provide easy access to parking.

Visitors increase and the Garden expands

2006 – 2009

Garden was open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00. There was an increase in visitors and requests for tours.
A plan for expanding to a four-acre garden was proposed in 2008. When Dry Creek Park was completed in 2009 the entrance was moved from Clovis Ave to provide easy access to parking.

An added shade structure in 2009 provided shelter for the fall plant sales that began in 2005 and spring plant sales in 2011, rain or shine.

Shade shelter added for plant sales

2009

An added shade structure in 2009 provided shelter for the fall plant sales that began in 2005 and spring plant sales in 2011, rain or shine.

The signature poppy gate created by Reuel Darling was installed in 2010. A temporary information center was added in 2017.

Poppy gate installed

July 2010

The signature poppy gate created by Reuel Darling was installed in 2010. A temporary information center was added in 2017.

Planting in the additional acreage began
with the cactus garden in 2012.

Cactus garden planted

2012

Planting in the additional acreage began
with the cactus garden in 2012.

The first permanent structure, the Clovis Community Foundation Pavilion, was ready for events by 2016 and has become a popular venue for a variety of private events.

The pavilion was built and ready for events

2016

The first permanent structure, the Clovis Community Foundation Pavilion, was ready for events by 2016 and has become a popular venue for a variety of private events.

Additional areas for plantings defined in 2013 included the Mediterranean, South African, Chilean, and the CA Native Gardens and were completed by 2018.

Mediterranean, South Africian, Chilean and Native CA gardens completed

2018

Additional areas for plantings defined in 2013 included the Mediterranean, South African, Chilean, and the CA Native Gardens and were completed by 2018.

Four water-wise demonstration gardens, including the traditional, allergy-free, millennial, and edible garden displays as well as the irrigation education display were completed.

Water-wise demonstration gardens complete

2018

Four water-wise demonstration gardens, including the traditional, allergy-free, millennial, and edible garden displays as well as the irrigation education display were completed.

By 2019, the Sensory Garden began providing individual and combined sensory experiences. The garden’s design and layout are accessible and enjoyable to disabled and non-disabled people of all ages.

Sensory garden complete

2019

By 2019, the Sensory Garden began providing individual and combined sensory experiences. The garden’s design and layout are accessible and enjoyable to disabled and non-disabled people of all ages.

2021, the Children’s Garden with whimsical and kid-friendly displays and information is nearing completion.

Children’s garden nears completion

2021

2021, the Children’s Garden with whimsical and kid-friendly displays and information is nearing completion.

The future includes an Ornamental Grass Display and First People’s Ethnobotany area.

Ornamental grass display

2022+

The future includes an Ornamental Grass Display and First People’s Ethnobotany area.

A new Visitor Center building designed by Art Dyson is currently in the planning stage.

Visitor’s center

2023+

A new Visitor Center building designed by Art Dyson is currently in the planning stage.

Clovis Botanical Board Members

Anne Clemons, President
Pat Wynne, Vice President
Carole Bence, Secretary
Andrea Reed, Treasurer
Perry Coy, Member
Rodger Pachelbel, Member
John Pape, Member
Leticia Ramirez, Member

Advisory Committee

Eric Aller, Clovis City Parks Director
Karin Chao Bushoven
John Bushoven, Ph.D., Plant Science Dept, CSUF
Dwight Kroll, Clovis City Planning Director, retired

Primary Sidebar

Visit the Garden

Open: Wednesday – Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesday, and select holidays

Location: 945 N Clovis Ave Clovis, CA 93611
(between Alluvial & Nees)

Admission: Free for children and adults.

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Copyright © 2025 · Clovis Botanical Garden

Visit the Garden

Open: Wednesday – Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesday, and select holidays

Location: 945 N Clovis Ave Clovis, CA 93611
(between Alluvial & Nees)

Admission: Free for children and adults.

Connect with us!

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