After she’s gone, this new garden at a seaside SLO County park will live on
When Maggie Wagner learned that her life was ending, she didn’t panic — she decided to put down roots and leave a lasting legacy on the shore of San Luis Obispo County.
Wagner, a retired veterinarian, has always loved plants, specifically cacti and succulents.
Going back around 18 years, Wagner and the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society hoped to fill in the landscaping at Dinosaur Caves Park, but they never were able to get enough support from the city of Pismo Beach to make their vision a reality.
But after a long battle with breast cancer, Wagner learned that her illness would be terminal, and started thinking about what that means for the things she cares about most.
“I learned in January that it metastasized, so it was kind of like, I don’t have any children, and I’m no longer married, so it’s like, OK, I’m probably not going to run out of money, so what do I want to do, you know?” Wagner said. “So I thought, I can afford to give a gift to the community, and it’s not just Pismo Beach — it’s a public garden, so anybody that comes by can see this, become inspired by it and enjoy it.”
Wagner hopes garden leaves lasting legacy
Wagner said the revelation of her illness’ return galvanized her desire to bring a new garden to Dinosaur Caves Park.
When she and the Cactus and Succulent Society brought the idea to the city several years ago, the city suggested that they start with landscaping the islands in the Dinosaur Cave parking lot, but Wagner said she and the society didn’t move forward with that idea because the plants could be easily disturbed by people getting in and out of their cars.
This year, starting with a contribution of $100,000 of her own money, Wagner launched a GoFundMe fundraiser that generated another $11,000, and started working with city officials to get the garden approved.
Funding in hand, Wagner and the Cactus and Succulent Society broke ground on Nov. 3 on a garden packed with succulents and cacti — both drought-resistant types of plants that require little water — situated in a rocky patch of ground surrounding the Dinosaur Caves sign and accompanying dinosaur statue.
Some 22 tons of boulders and a fresh layer of soil and gravel top dressing were purchased from Central Coast Landscape Products, a local company that also chipped in a “very generous cash donation, along with special pricing on all of the landscape supplies,” Wagner said.
The garden was designed and installed by Botanica Nova, another local company, she said.
In the garden, visitors can find multiple types of aloe, including Hercules aloe — Wagner’s favorite plant — along with along with succulents, sage, proteas and banksias, most of which were donated by West Covina Nurseries.
“We wanted to lean into the dinosaur theme with some of these aloes that kind of look prehistoric,” Wagner said. “We’re hoping to eventually, maybe not in this section, but put in plants that are called cycads, and those are truly prehistoric plants.”
More expansions planned for Dinosaur Caves gardens
A ribbon-cutting event will be held Dec. 12 at noon to celebrate the official opening of the garden’s first phase — though more gardens in a similar vein are planned around the park, Wagner said.
The ribbon-cutting event will also feature a plant and pottery sale fundraiser for future garden expansions, she said.
In the future, if the garden receives enough additional support, the Cactus and Succulent Society is hoping to build more gardens in the area surrounding the public restroom and playground area, Wagner said.
“It sounds kind of corny, but it’s kind of a symbol of hope and resiliency and all that,” Wagner said. “Hopefully, it will be here for decades to come.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
