More than 100 different plant species are found on the 30-acre property, many of them labeled with placards. In the year prior to the Aquarium’s 1992 opening, Llewellyn and his groundskeepers planted almost everything visitors see today; only a handful of the trees and shrubs on-site are relics of the lumber mill days. Smaller species have been added over the years, but the greenery reflects, by and large, the age of the Aquarium itself. The majority of this flora is native to the Oregon coast, but the occasional exotic does crop up.
This coastal forest, cultivated though it may be, still attracts hordes of native pollinators including bumblebees, rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds, butterflies, beetles, ants and moths. Hence the grounds, formerly barren, are certified as Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
The Aquarium’s proximity to Yaquina Bay affords visitors an up-close look at one of Oregon’s largest estuaries—rich ecosystems that occur wherever rivers meet the sea. Along the Estuary Trail, three viewing platforms look out onto the bay. Salt-tolerant vegetation crowds the banks, which give way at low tide to acres of mud flats. These flats support eelgrass beds, which in turn provide refuge to larval fishes, crabs, and a slew of other invertebrates. The mud itself is nutrient-rich and full of mollusks and crustaceans, a veritable buffet for shorebirds, raccoons, herons, kingfishers and more.
Come to the Aquarium for its stunning galleries, exhibits and presentations, but plan to linger a bit and wander its beautiful grounds. Stop and smell the native wild rose, the red-flowering currant, or the vibrant Oregon grape, our state flower. See if you can spot a rough-skinned newt coming up for air in the lily-padded pond, ringed with marsh grass and sedge. And because many of these species are labeled, you might take home some plant-identification skills, too!
