Martha Walker Garden

Martha Walker, originally from Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area, moved with her husband and four children to Napa in the early 1940s. She had a natural love for the seasonal changes and the wonders of nature, which likely came from her mother. The latter’s botanical garden in Mill Valley was well known. Martha’s horticulturally-minded friends visited here often after her move to Napa.

Throughout the years, Martha’s micro-gardening style evolved naturally. Her children described their home garden as a “free-form and least-disturbed layout.” A more traditional plan was applied when planting and tending their food gardens, especially the Victory Garden during the years of World War II.

Shortly after moving to the Napa Valley, Martha shared her outgoing nature and wisdom with the public through her KVON talk show and her gardening column in the Napa Register, “Let’s Go Into the Garden”, which was intended to show the pleasures to be found in natural, self-designed gardening pursuits. In addition, her weekly class at Napa Valley College, “Adventures in Gardening,” ensured anyone with the slightest interest in seeing things grow would soon be “out there” creating his or her own garden.

Martha helped found the Napa Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and encouraged the Napa Valley Naturalists. She was an active member of the Sierra Club and was a member of the Napa-Solano Audubon Chapter, when it formed in 1971. She led numerous field trips and was a frequent speaker for her causes and an adamant advocate for senior citizens. She also helped drive the Napa library Bookmobile.

Her other interests included growing native plants for natural dyes for her weaving. She enjoyed the magic of the Recorder instrument. A culinary library came alive with her use, and was enhanced by her extensive herb garden. Calligraphy supplies were always on her worktable.

Of utmost importance was her passion for Esperanto, her second language, which she learned by mail in just one year! Martha continued improving her knowledge and skill of Esperanto by attending summer courses and conventions throughout the world, thus promoting its appeal. She believed it to be an international language that would carry on beyond translated differences and help the world reach a common understanding and peaceful co-existence. To further those beliefs, she taught classes in Esperanto at Napa Valley College.

But Martha’s main interest and love was her gardening. Her influence is manifested in the work of her students, the organizations she helped start and her readers. All these people learned that harmony, good humor, love of nature, creativity, personal understanding and communication can contribute to a very rewarding way of life. Martha passed away in 1983 at the age of 78.

The Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden invites you to refresh your spirits by roaming the paths to see the native plants that were planted there by volunteers. Many hours have gone in to the planning and creation of the garden. It is still expanding through the efforts of current volunteers, many of whom never met Martha. During your exploration, have a seat on the carved bench placed in Martha’s honor beneath the old Valley Oak tree and enjoy the loveliness of the garden, an apt tribute to her spirit.

Meet other local gardening enthusiasts and learn to propagate and cultivate California native plants. Volunteers help with upkeep for the Martha Walker Native Plant Garden and plant propagation, where we grow native plants for the garden, our April and October plant sales.

A weekly work group meets every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon at the Garden in Skyline Park, 2201 Imola Avenue in Napa. No experience or native plant knowledge required – you will learn by doing.  No need to contact us first; just show up with water, a hat, and gloves.  We have the tools you need.  It is a fun group, and the Garden will thank you. (Rain cancels.)

Special one day garden projects can be arranged for work groups, scouts or anyone interested. To coordinate a custom work day, contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@napavalleycnps.org.

The Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden is located in Skyline Wilderness Park.

Located at: 2201 Imola Avenue in Napa.

The Park is open 7 days a week.

Cara from Vancouver, BC: “Very beautiful and relaxing garden. Thank you.”

Percy from Oakland, CA: “I love the gate and the layout! The gazebos are beautiful too. Wow!!”

Susan from Temple, ME: “A magical place, thank you.”

Wendy from Tampa, FL: “Lovely bird watching.”

Jonathan from Eureka, CA: “Smells nice! Beautiful for walks!”

Maria from Guadalajara, MT: “Hella nice.”

Dorinda from Greenville, SC: “Lovely. So peaceful.”

Garden Visitors have come from all 50 states and many countries.