Faculty / Staff Resources Student Resources
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
Community
Community

USC Peace Garden
In the Garden

Features of the USC Peace Garden

Daniela Velazco | Photo by Hannah Benet

Daniela Velazco | Photo by Hannah Benet

The overall design of the USC Peace Garden is by graduate student, Daniela Velazco, Master of Landscape Design + Urbanism Candidate, USC School of Architecture.

The Garden includes an urban mini-farm surrounded by California native plants and other drought-tolerant ornamental plants. The overall design is inspired by Southern California ecosystems and growing food.

Murals
The mural at the front of the Garden was designed and painted by Daniella Leon, undergraduate student at the USC Roski School of Art and Design.

USC Peace Garden mural, by Daniella Leon | Photo by Gus Ruelas

USC Peace Garden mural, by Daniella Leon | Photo by Gus Ruelas

USC Peace Garden mural, by Daniella Leon | Photo by Gus Ruelas

The mural at the back of the Garden was designed and painted by Trenyce Tong, undergraduate student at the USC Roski School of Art and Design.

USC Peace Garden mural, by Trenyce Tong | Photo by Gus Ruelas

USC Peace Garden mural, by Trenyce Tong | Photo by Gus Ruelas

USC Peace Garden mural, by Trenyce Tong | Photo by Gus Ruelas

Plant Adoption Center
Visitors to the USC Peace Garden are invited to adopt and take home a plant. We have a selection of hardy succulents — mostly jade and aloe — that we propagate on site.

Plant adoption at the USC Peace Garden | Photo by Hannah Benet

Plant adoption at the USC Peace Garden | Photo by Hannah Benet

Planting approach / principles / design

  • Environmental sustainability, including low water usage, composting, no use of harmful fertilizers or pesticides.
  • Cultivating place, including emphasizing plants that are native to this region/ecosystem.

USC Peace Garden | Photo by Hannah Benet

USC Peace Garden | Photo by Hannah Benet

USC Peace Garden | Photo by Hannah Benet

What are we growing?

The vegetables we are growing change every few weeks — some are added and some harvested on an ongoing basis. Fruit trees we are cultivating and/or rehabilitating include: pomegranate, peach, fig, banana, apple, orange, lemon, avocado, persimmon and loquat.

Black sage (Salvia mellifera) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Black sage (Salvia mellifera) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) | Photo by Hannah Benet

White sage (Salvia apiana) | Photo by Hannah Benet

White sage (Salvia apiana) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) | Photo by Hannah Benet

Purple broccoli | Photo by Hannah Benet

Purple broccoli | Photo by Hannah Benet

California native plant species grown in the USC Peace Garden include:

  • California buckwheat (varieties of Eriogonum)
  • California bush sunflower (Encelia californica)
  • California fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
  • California goldenrod (Solidago californica)
  • California sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
  • Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
  • Golden currant (Ribes aureum)
  • Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia)
  • Sages: black sage (Salvia mellifera), Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), white sage (Salvia apiana)
  • Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
  • Sugar bush (Rhus ovata)
  • Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)