Richmond -- The Wave Garden

Located on approximately 1/3 of an acre, The Wave Garden overlooks San Pablo Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay, in Richmond, California. The owners began construction of the garden in 2007 on a piece of land that was originally a vacant city lot. The Wave Garden is unique because while it is a private garden, it also has a section open to the public which includes an ADA compliant middle pathway. The garden was designed as a work of art, inspired by the work of sculptor Douglas Purdy which is featured in the garden. The winding pathways, platforms, and stairs were created out of textured concrete by artist Victor Armador. The curves of the garden reference the waves of nearby San Pablo Bay. The fencing and ironwork in the garden was designed by blacksmith, Robert Sharpe.

Many of the plants within The Wave Garden are water-efficient. They were selected to be sustainable in the California climate, which has frequent droughts, and also for their contrasting shapes, colors, and heights. Three types of plants in The Wave Garden are California native plants, but most originate from Australia, South Africa, Mexico, or Chile.

Persons associated with the garden include: Victor Amador (concrete artist, 2005- ); Robert Sharpe (blacksmith, 2007-2008); Kellee Adams (gardener, 2007-2008).