Garden of Discovery - March 2003

Our recent rains have been very much appreciated. Since the first of February SeaWorld has received 4.76 inches of precipitation. This just about equals the amount of rain the park had over the previous 12 months!

Given that most of the year there isn’t sufficient rainfall to support the plant collection we must create our own. Irrigation is an essential part of the SeaWorld landscape presentation. The irrigation system is impressive with 21,000 sprinkler heads and miles of pipe creating a network that makes “rain” in the early morning hours.

With this reliance on irrigation comes a major commitment to water conservation. The SeaWorld system is designed to accurately apply what water is needed for plant growth. Two devices are key to this remarkable system – rain buckets and evapotranspiration gauges. The rain buckets simply collect rainfall at anytime. With as little as five hundredths of an inch of rain the buckets automatically trigger a reduction in irrigation for the park system. With sufficient rain the system will shut off entirely for several days. The evapotranspiration gauges measure “ET” – the amount of water lost to evaporation and transpiration by plants. On a daily basis this information is shared with the 37 irrigation controllers in the park. The quantity of irrigation that occurs on a given night is based on the evapotranspiration water loss for that very day. Watering has gone high tech!!

Maintaining this system requires expertise. Designated members of the Landscape Department make up the Irrigation Team. The system is monitored and problems resolved daily. The “Irrigators” take pride in meeting the water needs of the massive SeaWorld plant collection.

Surely, there will be more rain before summer. In between these showers SeaWorld has an irrigation system that precisely applies water to the acres of park landscape.

To maintain optimum irrigation the park system is monitored daily
by members of the Irrigation Team.

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Growing From Seed

With spring just around the corner and visions of fresh green beans dancing in your head, is your gardening confidence blooming? If so, maybe you are ready for a new challenge, growing plants from seed. Starting from seed requires more time and patience, but can be extremely satisfying. Using seed also saves money and gives you a greater selection of varieties than container plants can offer. Seed can be purchased at local garden centers and nurseries or through mail order. Shopping by mail gives you choices beyond what one might ever imagine. Beginners will probably have the best luck starting annuals and vegetables. It’s also a good idea to keep a journal to see what plants worked for you. You can sow seeds directly in the soil or start them indoors. Some seeds don’t do well being transplanted and should be sown directly in the ground. Vegetable root crops like carrots, radishes, beets, and some flowers such as sunflowers can suffer or be damaged easily when transplanted. Indoor starting can be done at any time of the year as long as the soil is warm enough, and they get at least 14 hours of light. By starting seeds indoors you can avoid the problem with snails or slugs eating the tender shoots. Seed packets are a great source of information and will tell you things like when to sow and how deep or far apart to plant. Growing from seed provides an excellent educational opportunity for parents and children to work together and learn about the wonders of nature. For complete “how to” information on starting with see click on the following links:

Wildlife Watch

Annas Hummingbird resting on a butterfly bush
at the Garden of Discovery

Weather Report

March is a highly variable month at SeaWorld San Diego. The record high temperature was 93° in 1988. Greatest monthly rainfall was 6.96 inches during our “miracle March” of 1991. Visitors to SeaWorld can expect normal, pleasant conditions as a rule of thumb. Daytime highs in the upper sixties with a percentage of possible sunshine an impressive 70%.

Greetings From SeaWorld’s Garden of Discovery

What’s Happening in SeaWorld’s Gardens This Month?

To maintain optimum irrigation the park system is monitored daily
by members of the Irrigation Team.

Growing From Seed

Seedlings in SeaWorld's nursery.

Outreach Update

Lori Beeson from SeaWorld's Landscape Department
teaches first graders from Ocean Beach Elementary
how to plant a garden.

Wildlife Watch

Annas Hummingbird resting on a butterfly bush
at the Garden of Discovery

Weather Report

Greetings From SeaWorld’s Garden of Discovery

What’s Happening in SeaWorld’s Gardens This Month?

To maintain optimum irrigation the park system is monitored daily by members of the Irrigation Team.

Growing From Seed

Seedlings in SeaWorld's nursery.

Outreach Update

Lori Beeson from SeaWorld's Landscape Department teaches first graders from Ocean Beach Elementary how to plant a garden.

Wildlife Watch

Annas Hummingbird resting on a butterfly bush at the Garden of Discovery

Weather Report

To maintain optimum irrigation the park system is monitored daily
by members of the Irrigation Team.

Lori Beeson from SeaWorld's Landscape Department
teaches first graders from Ocean Beach Elementary
how to plant a garden.

Annas Hummingbird resting on a butterfly bush
at the Garden of Discovery