Four Points Bulletin

Wilderness Gardens County Preserve is considered a SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preserve), which provides a ‘mechanism by which people can preserve important natural areas of undeveloped land or small wilderness areas for the use and benefit of the general public.’ Thank goodness for forward thinkers. We, the general public, appreciate having the open space, with its thriving flora (including incredible parasitic relationships) to explore.

Wilderness Gardens is the oldest Parks and Recreation open space preserve in San Diego County. Although this only dates back to 1973, its history is rich. In the late 1800s, people camped out for weeks in order to turn their crops into flour at the only grist mill in north county San Diego. Before then, Native Americans created flour the old fashion way, with a mortar and pestle. Evidence of these distinct ways of life is prevalent throughout the preserve.