THE CARLSBAD ARBORETUM FOUNDATION

The Carlsbad Arboretum Foundation was established in 1986 for the purpose of developing an Arboretum at Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad. The ranch, a 19th century homestead and later the home of actor Leo Carrillo, had been designated as a future park site by the City of Carlsbad and it was hoped that a portion of the property could be set aside for an Arboretum featuring native and drought tolerant plants. The CAF Board of Directors and supporting membership worked towards the goal of establishing a foothold for its plans at Carrillo Ranch, but found that its objectives were not congruent with those of the city.

When it finally seemed unlikely that this project was feasible. CAF turned its focus on the establishment of small gardens at Carlsbad's elementary schools. Beginning with a pilot project at La Costa Meadows Elementary School in 1992, this project quickly blossomed to other school sites. CAF provided fencing, irrigation, soil amendments, seeds and Gro-Lamps to each school and provided instructional material to aid teachers in developing learning opportunities in the gardens. Handsome signs were also provided to display the name that each school chose for its garden. A School Garden Festival was held in Holiday Park in 1994.

In connection with the school gardens, CAF sponsored art contests, to encourage students' observation and appreciation of plant forms. A Compost Poster contest was included in the art program and prizes donated by local merchants were awarded in each school.

In 1995, CAF facilitated participation in the national Historic Tree Planting program, which provided seedling trees from historic sites to be planted on local school grounds.

In 1997 CAF turned its attention towards the planting of a garden in front of the historic Magee House in Carlsbad. Each of the five areas already laid out was designated for a particular type of landscape: Native Plants, Plants Grown commercially in Carlsbad, Old Fashioned Plants from the '20s and '30s, an Herb Garden and a Patriotic Red, White and Blue Garden, in honor of the Bicentennial Time Capsule planted in its midst. As its first hands-on project, CAF has found the Magee Garden to be a highly successful and rewarding endeavor. Maintained on the first Saturday of the month by CAF volunteers, the garden is currently being expanded to include the entire perimeter of the Magee House.

A DECADE IN THE GARDEN - 2007

Ten years ago we looked at the neglected yard in front of the Magee House in Carlsbad and decided that a make - over was long overdue. Easier said than done; half-dead shrubs surrounded by weeds and layers of fallen eucalyptus leaves were not the stuff for juicy mulches or soil improvement.

But we had willing spirits in Katherine Chaffee, Patty Hoenigman, Nils Lunnerdal and Don Miller, who were recruited from Quail Gardens. John Futtrell and Ivy Bodin came from Vista to join our own loyal members: Bastian Atterbury, Susan Carneiro, Joan Cave, Susan and German Gutierrez, Ann L'Heureux, Marge Howard-Jones and Kip McBane .

Since that time, some have moved on and others, like Gerry and Ted Matter and Mary Tornborg, from the Carlsbad Garden Club, and Rita Francis have joined in the fun.

At first, we gardened only spasmodically with accordingly slow progress. However, since it has become a regular first Saturday of the month event, the garden has thrived (as have the weeds!) We modestly look back on our handiwork with satisfaction and gratitude for all the helping hands.

We are especially mindful of four gardeners who are no longer with us. Nils Lunnerdal, who created our Native Plant garden, died three years ago. He had propagated and nurtured many of the specimens in our garden and his interest in what we were doing was a great inspiration. Two years ago, we lost Ann L'Heureux, whose wit and energy made her a great gardening companion. Last year we said good-bye to John Futtrell, he of the gracious Southern charm and big box of doughnuts to sustain us in our labors. Then, just this June, Katharine Chaffee, suddenly passed away just ten days after tending her beloved Herb Garden with us..

This succession of losses has prompted us to honor our fellow gardeners in some simple way. Katharine's family held a small memorial service for her at Magee Park on August 25, and we were pleased to place a specially designed ceramic tile with her name on it under the pine tree in the Herb Garden. For Nils, Ann and John we made cement stepping stones with their names on them and placed them in the garden.

To quote the noted English gardener Gertrude Jekyll, "the love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies." Our friends will always be with us in the garden.