Alcatraz Gardens: Connecting plant enthusiasts to a unique restoration project.

Established for beautification purposes when Alcatraz was U.S. Army fort, these gardens were  restored and tended by incarcerated people during the island’s era as a federal Prison. Further restoration began in the early 2000s, with NPS leading a multi-member partnership. Now the wildly popular national park site is dotted with flowering plants, some of which are heirlooms of parent plants introduced decades ago. A robust volunteer program supports a cadre of  local gardeners who ensure these gardens grow and thrive.