Wrigley Botanical Gardens

 

The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden is located at the very end of Avalon Canyon Road a mile up from Avalon and in the Catalina interior. The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden is a unique attraction on Catalina Island offering visitors an in depth look at the the botanical wildlife that is native to the island.

 

Upon arrival to the gardens after a hike (or drive) up Avalon Canyon Road visitors are greeted by the garden entrance that is a remiscent of a spanish adobe entrance found in resorts in Mexico. Upon entering the garden visitors will be treated to a variety of wild plant life in a tranquil setting that includes ponds, mountain views and the Wrigley Memorial. Some of the plant life that is encountered at the gardens include St. Catherines' Lace, Catalina Manzanita, Catalina Live Forever and the Catalina Ironwood. The garden hosts a small building to the south of the entrance that is home to an education and display center that details the plant wildlife found on the island and in the gardens. To the rear of the gardens is the Wrigley Memorial that is dedicated to WIlliam Wrigley Jr. (who lived from 1861 to 1932) the owner of the Chicago Cubs in the 1920s and the largest chewing gum company in the world, he was also a major developer who aspired to build Catalina Island into a major resort.

 

It is the Wrigley's who originally commissioned the building of the Wrigley Botanical Gardens. In 1935 Ada Wriigley, wife of WIlliam Wrigley Jr. hired Pasadena horticulturalist Albert conrad to plant a garden that is today known as the Desert Plant collection. In 1969 this garden was expanded and reconfigured to emphasize plants of the Channel Islands and those that are native to Catalina Island.

 

The Wrigley Botanical Garden is open dialy from 8AM to 5pm seven days a week. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under the age of 12.