Jensen Hallstrom with a family of garden visitors! Photo by Linda Fry.

Neighbors and volunteers were disheartened to find that a Fullerton City Landscape Crew had removed multiple trees at a beloved community garden on May 5. This was the first instance of any plant removal from the garden since its establishment in late 2017, nearly a decade ago. The removal occurred without any prior notice to neighbors or volunteers.

Affectionately known as “the butterfly garden,” the space is located along the Fullerton Loop Trail between Euclid Street and Richman Knoll and has become a popular rest stop for families and visitors of all ages. What was once an open field dominated by invasive seasonal weeds has, through years of volunteer effort, been transformed into a thriving habitat of California native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.

Cooper’s hawks circle overhead while hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees pollinate blooming sages. Western fence lizards sun on rocks and logs as scrub jays chirp among the oak trees. Carefully planted and maintained by community volunteers, the guerrilla garden has been thoughtfully curated to connect visitors with the rich diversity of California’s native flora.

On the morning of May 5, a city landscape crew had removed two Sequoia trees from the space — one of which had been lovingly planted as a memorial for a volunteer’s daughter. Both trees were in a small section of the garden representing the central coast.

During the removal, a concerned trail-side resident alerted garden volunteers to the crew’s actions. Neighbors and several volunteers quickly arrived and voiced their concerns over the work before recovering the trees.
The incident upset community members, who say the city focused on removing healthy trees while leaving maintenance and safety problems along the trail unaddressed. Concerns about nearby hazards, including paths that have washed away or have deep crevices that make walking on them difficult, standing dead trees, were shrugged off by the crew lead, casting doubt on the city’s prioritization of trail management. One such hazardous tree recently dropped a large, dead branch, damaging a neighbor’s chain-link fence.

For many involved, the removals struck at the heart of the grassroots effort, which transformed a neglected stretch of trail into a thriving educational and ecological space. Residents, businesses and organizations have made generous contributions over the years, providing materials and resources for plantings and maintenance.
Some local businesses, including Organix Environmental Services, donated mulch, and Fullerton Ace Hardware donated supplies and materials. Native trees were purchased from Tree of Life Nursery with a $500 donation from the Women’s Club of Fullerton in 2022. All plantings are well-established and continue to thrive thanks to these community partnerships and volunteers.

The garden has become widely known in the community through the work of environmental advocate Jensen Hallstrom. Most of the garden has been planted by local youth and families who have participated in volunteer events focused on habitat restoration and environmental education.

Hallstrom’s mission has been to enhance the space through community stewardship and inspire engagement with local ecology. Despite the setback, volunteers say they remain committed to maintaining the garden, strengthened by their determination to preserve the space and the volunteer spirit that built it.

Concerned community members may submit letters of support to City Manager Eddie Manfro at eddie.manfro@cityoffullerton.com.
Those interested in volunteering can contact fullertonurbanforest@gmail.com.