The Transformation of the Vallejo Adobe into the Nursery's Guest Lodge

LOC. 1937? 

When I look at this photo, I see "Sunset Magazine" and a very modern romantic version of rustic Spanish California.

The adobe was originally built after the secularization of Mission San Jose. Supposedly built by José de Jésus Vallejo for his vaqueros. JJ Vallejo grew wheat and cattle.

According to Charles Howard Shinn, writing in the Oakland Enquirer in 1889, "The late Thomas Scott was a prominent man of Vallejo Mills. He moved there [Vallejo Mills] after a year or two of farming "on the bottom," where he lived in the old adobe still standing on the California Nursery Grounds." 

According to Frances Roeding, Frank Garcia was born in the adobe in 1867. There was a "hole in the middle of the roof, under which the family cooked, so that the smoke could go out, and some fresh air could come in.  Each corner of the structure was used for a different purpose. One corner was used for sleeping, another for storage of supplies, the third for quarters for domesticated fowl and animals, and the fourth for a family chapel."

When John Rock came here in 1884, this was the only building on the 463 acres. Did they live here until they were able to build some housing? It was later used for cold storage and fumigation. It had no windows and had a shake roof. There was a wooden extension on the west side, as seen in the Washington Township book. 

Again from Frances "When George C. Roeding, Jr. took over management of the California Nursery from his father in 1926 the "Old Adobe" was used as a storage shed for late export nursery shipment so that the stock would be kept cold and dormant." It was surrounded by lath houses and sheds on all sides.

"Early Horticulture in California" Charles Howard Shinn

C.H. Shinn wrote of early horticulture starting from the mission period.

Roses and their journey around the world

From the THE INDIAN ROSE ANNUAL XXXI 2015

Japanese-Style garden using California native plants

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Japanese Garden, "A tea garden in the canyon"
• Nichi-Bei "How to make your Japanese Garden Drought-Resistent"
• Where to gain inspiration Pacific Horitculture "California Japanese Style Gardens"
• The Dry Landscapes of Zen Temples Meet California's Drought
• Evoking Native Landscape Using Japanese Garden Principles

Alameda County Historical Books

• History of Alameda County, California, including its geology, topography, soil, and productions; 1883; by Munro-Fraser, J. P.; Wood, Myron W. 
• Illustrated album of Alameda County, California; its early history and progress--agriculture, viticulture and horticulture--educational, manufacturing and railroad advantages--Oakland and environs--interior townships--statistics, etc., etc; 1893
• History of Washington Township, Alameda County, California, Country Club of Washington Township, 1904
• Past and Present of Alameda County California, 1914, vol. I and II
• History of Alameda County California, vol 1 and 2 Past and present of Alameda County, Frank C. Merritt, 1928

textsPast and present of Alameda County, California

Should you prune native California plants?

What Would Deer Do?
The California Bay Laurel is
well suited to sheering,
if you believe what the deer do.

Good Question and many people say that you are likely to kill the native plant if you don't do it the right time of year. Many of our plants evolved with fire and root-sprout. 

Many have evolved with a four-footed garden maintenance crew. Other plants live in creek beds that alternate between drought and torrential water. 

You've got to be observant and refer to those experts who have had experience.

• Las Pilitas - "How to Prune Native Plants (without killing them)"
• Yerba Buena - "Basic Pruning & Deadheading Techniques For Common California Native Plants"
• Take a class from your local native pruning expert at Merritt College
• Care & Maintenance of Southern California Native Plant Gardens (Cuidado y Mantenimiento de Jardines de Plantas Nativas del Sur de California) 
• California Native Gardening: A Month-by-Month Guide

Flying Dragon

Looking very Smaug-like

Visitors at Shinn Park often ask about one particular plant - the flying dragon hedge (Poncirus trifoliata). The hedge that surrounds the Japanese garden is quite eyecatching. "What IS it?" they ask. "Can I eat the fruit?"

Poncirus trifoliata (aka trifoliate orange) is from Northern China and Korea. The original plan by Mai Arbegast specified a "solid hedge of plant such as Poncirus trifoliata to enclose garden...." to discourage dogs and trespassing. This unusual pointy feature of the garden really does encourage the use of the three gates into the garden. You only get stuck in it, or by it, once and then you avoid it.

The flying dragon fruit can apparently be eaten (or it might be poisonous according to one source), but the recipes given make it sound fairly unpalatable. My favorite recipe for a flying dragon citrus drink is "One fruit, five barrels of sugar, and five barrels of water".  A "barrel" is a somewhat loose measurement and can be somewhere between 26 and 53 gallons. But you get the idea. Needs dilution.

A good review of its uses are here. (Always double check your sources when trying something new!)

Big Sigh...Poncirus trifoliata is now Citrus trifoliata.