|
|
Garden Restoration
THE
GARDENS AT THE COHEN-BRAY HOUSE
Inventory
and Research. The current state of the garden is being documented
and inventoried. Information has been collected about the garden's
history and appearance through old photos and oral histories with family
members. The status of the aged, towering deciduous trees that
essentially define the landscape has been established through arborist
consultation. For all of this data collection The Garden Conservancy has
provided invaluable guidance.
Ongoing
Maintenance. Care of existing plantings, no matter what changes
are anticipated in the garden, must continue. For now the family has
assumed responsibility for the upkeep of the back garden, while the VPCO
Garden Committee has agreed to care for the front yard. the Committee's
work includes removal of overgrowth, general upkeep, re-definition of
original paths with brick edging, installation of drip irrigation
system, pruning and shaping of existing trees.
Rehabilitation
of the Front Garden. A design has been developed that both
incorporates remaining elements of the old garden and is compatible with
the known look of California Victorian gardens. Before installation of
this design, a fence across the front of the property and
security/decorative lighting are needed. We have received a number of
grants for fence and lighting; work on both projects will begin soon. We
are most grateful to the following organizations for their generous
support: the Elizabeth and Stephen Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Laural
Foundation, the Shenandoah Foundation, the Ramsay Family Foundation, and
the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.
Our
work is done entirely with volunteer effort. We could use your arms,
legs, and backs for garden work that includes: raking, weeding, pruning,
ivy removal, feeding, mulching, brick laying, planting, hauling. We
would also be grateful for donations of the following: small cash
donations for supplies, old bricks, garden rocks, period garden
ornament, drip irrigation supplies, lawn/leaf trash bags, terra cotta
pots, planting mix, soil amendments, plants - especially survivors from
old California gardens that you may be discarding. Don't throw any
plants away . Call us first. (510) 317-6788. Come join us in the garden!
Possible links: The Garden Conservancy California Garden and Landscape
History Society Bay Area Association of Historic House Museums
---------------------------------------------
|
