Master Plan
"The historic orchard located in the southeast corner is, in large part, retained and enlarged." p.27
This is actually misleading, because the historic orchard area is the whole rectangular area. When the city took the orchard over in 1970, there were fruit trees planted throughout. In 1984 Ram Fishman came to visit and bought apples that were created by Albert Etter. The trees there now - apricots, cherries, nectarine - were the beginning of an effort to restore the Roeding Experimental orchard in 2000. Lack of water in recent years has speeded the decline of all of these trees.
An "historic orchard" is often replanted as trees die or reach their age limit. It can still be historic if it is replanted with varieties that were here in the 1930s-1970s, such as the Albert Etter test varieties, Luther Burbank plums, Fisher peaches, etc.
The Master Plan states "New trees will be planted, generally in long, straight rows consisting of a single species. This is intended to reinforce the strong rectilinear patterns seen in historic photos and plans of the nursery. " p. 9.
The orchard in 1937. During the building of the subdivision (check HistoricAerials between 1966 and 1968) houses were built in the top half of the orchard. The park retained the portion in red, about 13-15 rows. In 2000, the orchard was replanted with about 3 rows according to one of the historic orchard maps. The historic orchard maps list many Albert Etter apple varieties, peaches, chestnuts, figs, and more. The maps do include some rows of all apricots. Primarily apricots were planted and some cherries, peaches, and a nectarine or two were planted.
The current Master Plan p. 27
The Roeding Residence is on the bottom. Palms on the left.
The remaining portion of the orchard is hidden behind the arbor.
Currently a small portion of the Roeding orchard is relegated to the very back corner of the park. It will be hidden by this very modern pergola. The remainder shows wandering paths and "meadow."
What will give the visitor the experience of a working orchard of the nursery? A modern pergola? Or an actual orchard where visitors can learn to prune, graft, harvest, celebrate?
Compare to Filoli's Gentlemen's orchard with its trees in orderly rows, temporary and permanent interpretive signage, and an easy to walk surface for Orchard days. Those who come to celebrate Orchard days do so with popup tables, benches, and chairs. And a skeleton or two. Drinks for young and older can be purchased. Music listened to.
Other cities have chosen to preserve their historic orchards which were important in the development of their cities and of California.
The Saratoga Heritage Orchard surrounds the public library. About 1300 fruit trees? - apricot, cherry, and plum are now managed by the Orchardkeepers. The city budgets funds for maintenance.
Filoli's Gentlemen's orchard is an excellent example of an historic orchard that has programs, tours, and events. Hay bales anyone? This was an orchard that provided fruit for the household, so many kinds of fruits were grown. The California Nursery Company sold plants to the Bourne's. The archives do not cover the era of the planting of the gentlemen's orchard, but it is thought that they provided fruit trees, too.
Luther Burbank's Farm orchard shows a variety of fruits created by Luther Burbank, but probably the old orchards were removed to build the apartments.
From the feedback, I gleaned this (links later). The community has said that they like our parks because they:
Trails and Open space
Community gardens
Improve mental health & reduce stress
Provide volunteer opportunities for the community
Provide positive social interactions
Promote tourism to our community
"The survey showed very strong support for Historical Park programming. The proposed CIP includes continued funding for the on-going development of California Nursery Historical Park (CNHP), which will give this historical park the attention required to preserve its heritage, highlight and celebrate its historical significance, and allow visitors to explore its natural and historical wonders in a sustainable manner.”
The young Ah Yen in an orchard, ready to prune. Ah Yen worked for 40 years at the CNCo, part of the time with John Rock, with W.V. Eberly as manager, and for the Roeding family.
What about our wish to include the history of the Chinese workers?
The Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project wished for a worker's building to be included in the plan to help tell the stories of the people who worked in the orchard and other areas in the nursery. The worker's building was included in the Master Plan. Read about it here.
This is no longer planned, because it is not appropriate to bring in an historic building that is not an actual California Nursery Building. Its significance would be stripped. And it would dilute the significance of the historic landscape.
However, the work of the immigrants - Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and others - can still be honored by remembering their presence in a working vital orchard.
Bing Hong Chan worked for the nursery and shows up in the census for 1930. He taught Bruce Roeding the skills that he himself learned from Bruce's grandfather, George C. Roeding. [BR]