We purchased this property because of the topography. It took us about two years to clear out the poison out, scrub brush, dead trees and dead bushes. What you see today is a labor of love. We planted just about every tree and plant you see. God gave us the oaks, willows, toyons and a variety of native plants. My husband, JC, seeded the golf course which is his pride and glory. I call the Golf Course "JC's Park." When we planted the trees they were very small. Today some are over 50 feet tall. The bushes, we planted, were all one gallons and now they also are quite massive. We knew it was going to be nice but had no idea just how nice. You will have to judge for yourself when you stay with us.
We call our place "Las Tres Palmas" and our preserve "Wild Holly Creek." This is actually the official name for our creek. When Jon Green, Director of Alpine's Back Country Land Trust, was mapping all the creeks in Alpine he told me that our creek did not have a name. I told him that we named it "Wild Holly Creek" in 1994. We named it that because God gave us 15 native Wild Holly trees (Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia) that grow along the creek. Some are over 100 years old. During November and December the trees are ablaze with little red berries.
On January 17, 1994 our garden was certified by the National Wildlife Federation. Alpine was designated the Nations First Community Wildlife Habitat on May 1, 1999. We learned that "Wild Holly Creek" is Alpine's First Certified Wildlife Habitat and feel honored to have this designation. Today I am the Director of Alpine's Community Wildlife Habitat Program. I give two lectures a year at the library, one for children in April, teaching children about Monarch butterflies and one in October for adults where I talk about what to plant in Alpine and to certify your garden. I continue to encourage Alpine residents to certify their garden so Alpine can keep their designation with NWF as the Nation's First Community Wildlife Habitat.