The Bostick Interpretive Area is a gathering place

On February 2006, the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC) broke ground on one of its latest projects, the Bostick Weir Interpretive Area.  Having been in the planning phase for some time, the Bostick Weir Interpretive Area will provide several functional gardens, trails, informational panels, shade, and a breath taking view of the Wash.

Artist's rendition of the Bostick Interpretive Area
Click to view slideshow

This 0.70-acre site contains numerous species of plants that will cater to the individual functions of the different gardens, as well as the needs of native animals in the area.  The Bostick Weir Interpretive Area also provides benches, a shade structure as well as hidden areas and overlooks. But the focal point of the site is the eight interpretive panels that describe the wildlife, hydrology and engineering that can be viewed from the platform, with a focus on nonpoint source water pollution and what visitors can do to help reduce the problem. Additionally, the community partnerships that are making the Las Vegas Wash restoration project a reality are highlighted and there is a dedication to Vernon Bostick, a long-time advocate of restoration and enhancement efforts on the Las Vegas Wash.

View of the shade structure across the wildlife and sensory gardens.
Click to view slideshow  

Bostick Weir Interpretive Area is broken up into three main gardens-Sensory, Ethnobotanical , and Wildlife-each with a different purpose.  An ADA accessible trail meanders through the existing Bostick Weir revegetation site leading up to an ethnobotanical garden. This garden, located east of the kiosk, features two large mounds planted with colorful flowers and shrubs greet visitors and serve as the entrance to the ethnobotanical garden area. This garden also features plant species that were important to the Native Americans that inhabited the area. The plants selected were used for:

• Medicines
• Making arrow shafts
• Building materials for houses and shade structures
• Lining roasting pits and
• Food

The path continues to the sensory garden, which was designed with your five senses in mind. Each plant was selected to appeal to sight, sound, touch, smell or taste. Once the vegetation matures, six desert willow trees will hide a sunken amphitheater designed as a gathering place for contemplation or listening to a talk during a tour. Another feature is a raised planting bed with native trees, grasses and the unusual looking paper bag plant.
The Sensory garden plants were chosen for their unique shape, smell, or texture, allowing visitors to interact with the environment while providing a natural setting. 

Raised planting bed feature
Click to view slideshow

The wildlife garden, located on the Westside of the kiosk, contains plants that retain the native Mojave look and is accented with the usage of rock and stonework.  This area has already proven to be an attraction for birds such as the Say's phoebe. Boulders adorn the garden providing convenient places to sit and look out at the view that spans across the water, adjacent desert, mountains, and the Las Vegas Valley. A flagstone path leads the visitor between the gardens away from the interpretive area down to the Las Vegas Wash for a little exploring along the bank.

Each garden will also function in providing reference points that the LVWCC and community organizations can use to facilitate meetings, field activities, and other events.  The importance of the gardens is to also provide guests and visitors creative ideas on how revegetating the Wash or their own yards with plants native to the desert can provide aesthetic beauty while at the same time conserve water.

The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection 319 grant program funded the project. For more information about this project contact the Project Team office at 822-3300.