Although much remains to be done I would like to provide a glimpse of the progress to date. Unfortunately, we can't present a time line at this juncture because of two significant variables—the city's approval process and the continued success of fund raising. Yet, ideas for what to expect in what we are calling our First Best Step are beginning to coalesce.

The theme and working title for our first phase for the expansion is Wild Encinitas, and it represents a significant undertaking. The 4.5 acre expansion is on land under a 55-year lease the Gardens has with the city of Encinitas and it is our intent to use it to help connect people with nature.

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The First Best Step calls for extending the existing Gardens' perimeter fence to include about one third of the site. An entrance would be provided in this fence to accommodate prearranged groups and parking would be provided for these visitors on the land outside the fence. There are three major elements, or visitor experiences, planned for Wild Encinitas.

One of these elements will be a public gathering space that can be used for a variety of garden activities such as plant sales or festivals that sometimes overflow our existing space. A second and significant element will be a Mediterranean garden, containing design elements seen in Mediterranean Europe and incorporating plants from all of the Mediterranean climate areas of the world. One of its purposes will be to demonstrate a gardening style that is not only attractive and well suited to our area, but also promotes water conservation. We intend to use recycled water for irrigation in this area as well.

The most prominent feature for our First Best Step in Wild Encinitas will be our first phase of the master plan for the children's garden. From its inception, the expansion of the Gardens has been anchored on providing a special garden place for children. Two years ago we opened the Seeds of Wonder children's garden in part to test the concept of this unique public garden exhibit. An overwhelming positive response has surpassed our expectations, confirming that a children's garden on a larger scale is the most important major addition that could be made to QBG.

The total area for what we have been calling the San Diego Children's Garden project at Quail Botanical Gardens is about an acre. This is four times the size of Seeds of Wonder and will be fully developed in phases. There are several concepts that will be part of the first phase, but one is particularly dramatic and will become the icon at the entry to this garden.

It consists of a tree. Not an ordinary tree, but a constructed one that would support various levels, platforms and rooms that children and their families can climb up into and explore. These spaces or rooms in the tree (a suggested name is the Tree Frog Tree House) will be places of discovery and interaction. We are just beginning to define potential experiences, but a butterfly aviary and some other small wildlife such as tree frogs could be potential tree dwellers. Some of the spaces might also be designed for special programs for children and their families.

The tree itself will probably be styled like a banyan fig with numerous trunks typical of this amazing plant native to India. Clearly it would take many years to grow this tree so the main trunks and particularly those needed to provide structural support for the various rooms built into it will be manufactured. We will use available modern techniques and materials that can produce a very realistic, albeit artificial tree. But our goal is to use living plant material for the leaf bearing branches and also festoon the artificial and living branches with all sorts of orchids, bromeliads, ferns and other epiphytic growing plants that will give our tree a magical jungle type of atmosphere.

While our plans are still being refined, we are making notable progress toward fulfilling a goal to enlarge Quail Botanical Gardens and do so with exciting and new ways to connect people—especially young people—with the wonder and beauty of nature. We thank you all for your continuing support as we begin our First Best Step. Banyan tree rendering courtesy of James D. Burnett, FASLA, Solana Beach. Larger drawings can be viewed at Quail Botanical Gardens.