During the early fortifications, dirt from nearby Angel Island was brought over to form gun battery emplacements. With this dirt, many native grasses and annuals were accidentally introduced.
After the 1860's, Alcatraz Island was slowly transformed from a fort into a military prison. Military inmates and personnel arrived to stay on Alcatraz. Homes were built and formal gardens were started. Ornamentals, exotics, and trees were introduced. These gardens were maintained by military inmates until 1934, and flourished under their care.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons occupied the Island from 1934-1963. It was during the time that the gardens diminished, and little additional planting was done. There were no official gardeners,and a few select inmates maintained the main gardens. However,the private gardens of resident families flourished. Vegetables and fruit trees were introduced.
Since the closure of the Federal Prison in 1963, the gardens have been neglected. The plants seen on the island today are what remain of the original gardens. They have survived on their own, existing on moisture from fog and rain. These plants have been protected since the National Park Service took over in 1972.The gardens of Alcatraz provide an unexpected pleasure for visitors, and serve as a constant reminder of the people who once considered Alcatraz their home.
A FEW OF THE COMMON PLANTS OF ALCATRAZ
Flowers
:
California Poppy
The single flowers are born on 24-72 cm. stems. The leaves are blue-green and finely divided. The 9-12 cm. flowers are satiny, and yellow to deep orange in color.
Honeysuckle
These fragrant flowers are arranged in pairs along 6-8 metervines. The ornate leaves are 3-9 cm. long. The tubular flowers are white to yellow, and 3-5 cm. long.
Lily of the Nile
The 3-6 cm. flowers form round clusters at the ends of 1 meter stalks, 20-50 flowers per cluster. They are funnel shaped and sky blue in color. The basal leaves are 1.5 meters long and strap shaped.
Nasturtium
The elaborately colored flowers are found along 2-3 meter vines. They are 6-9 cm. long, and range from yellow to red-brown or orange. The leaves are umbrella-like, 3-12 cm. in length.
Red Hot Poker
Hundreds of small flowers, 3-5 cm. form poker-like clusters at tops of 1-2 meter stalks. They are orange-red to yellow, and tubular in shape. The 1-2 meter leaves are sword-like.
Valerian
Hundreds of 1 cm. flowers form dense clusters on .5-1 meter stalks. They are rose-pink or maroon in color. The 6-12 cm.leaves are arrow shaped.
Succulents
Century Plants
These are gigantic plants. Basal leaves are blue-green, edged with spines, and 1-2 meters in length. Plants flower every 3-10 years. Clusters of yellow flowers are borne on ends of 5-13 meter stalks.
Ice Plant
The irridescent flowers are found along 1 meter stems. The 5-10cm. flowers have hundreds of small petals, either yellow or bright magenta. The leaves are 3-sided, fleshy, and 3-5 cm. in length.
Shrubs
Fuschia
These are woody shrubs 1-4 meters tall. Flowers can be white,red, pink, blue-violet, or violet-purple. They are 3-9 cm. long and hang in clusters at the branch ends. The 3-9 cm. leaves are recurved.
Geranium
These succulent or woody stemmed shrubs are 1-1.5 meters tall. The 3-9 cm. flowers are elaborately colored; from white to pink, brilliant red, lavender, purple or coral. Petals may be double or single. Leaves, 3-9 cm. may be round, serrated, ruffled, ivy-like or bordered.
Pride of Madeira
Hundreds of .5-2 cm. flowers are found in spike-like clusters atthe ends of 1-1.5 meter stalks. The tiny flowers are sky blue and white. The leaves are 6-18 cm. long, blue-green, and lance shaped.
Trees
Monterey Cypress
These evergreen trees can grow up to 15 meters or more. They have tiny scale-like leaves, closely set on cord-like branches.
Terrestrial Wildlife of Alcatraz Island
1. Deer Mice: genus Peromyscus
2. Banana Slugs: genus Ariolimax
3. California Slender Salamander: Batrachoseps attenuatus
Deer Mice: Peromyscus maniculatus
Deer mice are believed to be the only mammals inhabiting Alcatraz Island. These noctural rodents typically vary from 7-10 cm in length, with a tail reaching between 6-12 cm. Peromyscus feed on insects, berries and fruit. The mice on Alcatraz are particulary fond of food scraps left behind by humans on the isle. Many of the mice have been found trapped inside garbage cans they could enter but not exit from.
A study of Peromyscus conducted on Alcatraz in 1994 found that some of the island's mice have an unusual light tan coat color as opposed to the darker coats predominant in mice populations throughout the rest of the San Francisco Bay area.
Banana Slugs: Arriolimax ssp.
These, usually yellow-colored, creatures can be found in moist areas on Alcatraz. They can reach up to 15-20 cm in length. The slime produced by the slugs assists them in their movements, water retention and defense. Their diet is varied, consisting of vegetation, fungi and dead animals.
Despite their apparently unsavory and slimey nature, the slugs are edible. Numerous "slug festivals" and "slug races" are held yearly. Part of these festivities often include slug recipe/cooking contests.
California Slender Salamander: Batrachoseps attenuatus
These animals can be found in moist sites on Alcatraz, especially under rotting wood. They range from 6-12 cm in length and have tiny feet. They resemble earthworms (except for their having feet) in size and color. These salamanders "breathe" through their skin. And, like other salamanders, they can easily snap off their tails if need be. Studies done on them on the island indicate that the salamanders are old and have low reproductive rates.