A Garden for All Time: The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 1926–2005

NOTICIAS Quarterly Magazine Of The Santa Barbara Historical Society Vol. L, No. 4/Vol. LI. No. 1

Winter 2004 / Spring 2005

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A Garden for All Time . JHE Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

HE AUTHOR: Mory Canvllhasworkedasaprofessicmaibotanistforovertwenty-fiveyears, speciaLizjing in theflora and vegetation ofthe western United States. She received both herBJK.and MJ{.in Botany at V.C.Santa Barbara,and worked at the Santa Barbara Botanic Qardenfortwenty years,firstasaresearch assistant and later. DirectorofEducaturn. Ms.Carrollconducts botanicalresearch on the California Islands and adjacent mainland,teaches many classesfor the public through the Qarden,serves as an Adjunct ProfessorofBiology at Westmont College,and works in the environmental consultingfield.She is the author ofover eighteen publications and is afrequent speaker on botanical topics.

AUTHORS ACKNOWLEEX3EMENTS: The generosity ofnumerous people has made the preparation ofthis history a pleasure;it has been a true collaboration.Laurie Hannah hasshared a wealth ofresources and historicalperspectives,andprovided me with countless leads,asking and answering insightful questions that havefurthered this research. Dr. Edward Schneider conceived ofthe scope ofthe project, obtained backing,and provided input and support along the way. Kellam de Forest,son ofLockioood de Forest, Jr., offered invaluable perspectives on hisfamily and served as a k^en editor. Dr. Pplph Philbrick, Eh-.

PpbertMuller,Dr.David%ung,Dr.J.P,Haller,andE.P 'Jm’Blaklcyallansweredmanyquestions and granted interviews. Tom BUss ofthe Bliss Family International Society, Cortlandt Van Ppisselaer (Maunsell Van Ppfisselaer’s son),Ned(Edward Maunsell)Van Ppisselaer,and James Van Bpisselaer also provided helpful information. Lady Bliss(Qertrude Bliss,Palph Hoffmann sdaughter,who turned one hundred in zooj)answered questions in correspondencefrom London. Wayne Ferren,Jr. shared information andfeedbackon Dr.Frederic Clements and the Santa Barbara Society ofNatural History.

Dr. Shelley Bookspan,former editor ofthe Public Historian, provided valuable guidance and was a supreme editor.Laura Baldwin,former Qarden editor,along with Bruce E^ed and Ellen Stoddard,abo patiently edited numerous drafts. Dr. Dieter Wilken,Lynn Carbon,and Nancy Johnson helped with documents and information. Don Matsumoto,Laurie Hannah, and Michael E^dmon helped select photographs,and Jeffrey Yardy prepared the wonderfid maps. Michael E^dmon ofthe Santa Barbara Hbtorical Society deserves special thanksfor hb artful shepherding ofthb project through its various stages. Finally,I wbh to thankmy children, Anna and Sam,who have been supportive and tolerant of thb multi-yearproject.

Front cover pliotograph shows the lower meadow ofthe Santa Barbara Botanic Qarden in bloom with a snow-covered La Cumbre Peak hi background, 1965. Backcover photograph shows detail ofa Washingtoniapalm. The drawing onpages one andfifty-nine b by Campbell Qrant,originally executed forthe 1972 Annual Report ofthe Santa Barbara Botanic Qarden. All illustrations arefrom the Santa Barbara Botanic Qarden Archives unless noted otherwbe.

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS: NOTiciAs is a quarterly joumal devoted to the study of the history of Santa Barbara County. Contributions of articles are welcome. Those authors whose articles are accepted for publication will receive ten gratis copies of the issue in which their article appears. Further copies are available to the contributor at cost. The authority in matters of style is the University ofChicago ManualofStyle,i^th edition. The Publications Committee reserves the right to return submitted manuscripts for required changes. Statements and opinions expressed in articles are the sole responsibility of the author.

Michael Redmon, Editor Judy Sutcliffe, Designer © 2005 The Santa Barbara Historical Society 136 E. De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101 ● Telephone: 805/966-1601 Single copies $10.00 ISSN 0581-5916

A Garden for A1

ime:

dhe Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 1926-2005

Flourishing in the heart of Mission Canyon,

it was originally conceived by Dr. Frederic Clements in 1924—exhibition, conservation,

the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden appears as it it has always been there. Tlic verdant redwood forest, the wildflowcr meadow,and

demonstration landscaping,experimentation, and research.' Unlike a nature preserve, in which human disturbance is minimized and

other sections of the Garden seem so much a part of nature that it is easy to forget that the

the natural vegetation left intact, the original

Garden is a designed and planted landscape that has changed with time to reflect the in-

Garden was created by removing much of

ccrcsts and aesthetic leanings of its designers and administrators. Different and sometimes

displays to educate the public about selected

conflicting visions have shaped the Garden,

living exhibits were also intended to be the

and its ongoing metamorphosis is a vital part of its story.

resources for scientific inquiry and experi mentation. The Garden was founded on the

As the Garden approaches its eightieth year, its mission remains the same as when

dual principles of research and education,

the existing vegetation and then planting natural processes and communities. These

with living displays serving as dynamic tools

Mary Carrol M.aps prepared by JeJIrey L. Jcirdy 1

NOTICIAS

2 to help both scientists and the public gain knowledge about California plant life.

Setting the Scene

about 1893, followed by Peter Riedel from Holland in about 1905, and the Englishman E.O. Orpet in about 1920. Dr. Augustus B. Doremus arrived in Calilornia in 1882 and served as Santa Barbara’s first Superintendent

Santa Barbara experienced a boom in

of Parks from 1902 to 1918; he was respon

growth when the railroad connected it to

sible for the planting of the stone pines{Pinus

Los Angeles in 1887 and to San Francisco in 1901. This area, with its beautiful set¬

pinea) on East Anapamu Street.^ By 1880 interested ranchers, horticultur

ting, mild Mediterranean climate, sparkling ocean, and backdrop of stunning green-clad mountains attracted many people of wealth.

ists, and gardeners had lormed the Santa Bar bara Horticultural Society,■* In 1891 the City of Santa Barbara held a flower festival, which

culture, and education. People from the East Coast and Midwest made Santa Barbara their

attracted hundreds of visitors, to celebrate the

winter home, including several who played a

visit of President Benjamin Harrison and his wife, Caroline.

Elizabeth de Forest recalled, "When I

significant role in early Garden history: Bernhard and Irene Hoffmann from Stockbridge, Massachusetts; Anna Dorinda and William

came here in 1925 everybody was talking

H. Bliss from St. Louis, then New York City.

Later came Mildred and Robert W Bliss

a stylish dinner party; or il you were humble folk and lived in Santa Barbara the talk was

from Washington. D.C. , and Mrs, Oaklcigh

about gardens and about horticulture, and all

Thorne from Chicago. Others retired to this area, such as Dr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Bissell of Rochester. New York. These new residents

the wonderful things that could be grown

with others began to lobby tor creation of

local gardens, and competitions lostercd great enthusiasm for horticultural endeavors.'' It

more cultural pursuits in Santa Barbara.

Ac the same time, skilled horticulturists moved into the area, providing plants for various estates and gardens. Joseph Sexton arrived in 1867 and established the first com mercial nursery in town on Castillo Street.

Kincon Stevens, originally from England, came to Santa Barbara in about 1882 and established his nursery in Montecico on the site of what is now LohisLind; his son.

Ralph Stevens, was a landscape architect who. among ocher projects, designed gardens at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and, along with Lockwood de Forest, Jr.^ at Casa del liarero; Dr, Francesco Franccschi. originally from Italy, arrived in Santa Barbara

Francesco Franccschi was only one ofa number of talented and innovative horticulturists who introduced hundreds oj neiv plants to the Santa Barbara area. Santa Barbara Historical Society photograph.

about plants and horticulture. You went out to

here. So it was a very fruity. . . horticultural climate.

Articles about gardening, tours of

was an ideal climate in which to establish a local botanic garden.

A headline in the Santa Barbara yV/onu’ng Press for January 26.1918. read. "Mass Meet ing Favors World Botanical Garden for Santa

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

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Barbara.” Communicy leaders had launched a movement to form a World Botanical

of a group of professional scientists and amateurs with avid interests in the natural

Garden, featuring regional botanical exhib its in the area between Canada and Mexico

sciences. This group, the Santa Barbara So

along the 2000-mile Pacific Coast Highway.

ciety of Natural History, founded in 1887. created a small museum at 1226 State Street

Speeches at public meetings detailed the

and a publication, 'Ihe Bulletin ofthe Santa

scientific value of such an undertaking and extolled Santa Barbara as the place "where the vegetation ot the tropics and of the north meet in the most harmonious mingling.”

Santa Barbara would serve as headquarters and feature the largest exhibits. llitre is no[jlacc in the entire world so well Jumished by naturejor suck a mighty botanical

Barbara Society ofNatural History. Activities diminished around the turn of the century but resumed in 1916 with the arrival of ornithologist William Leon Dawson from Ohio, Dawson founded the Museum of Comparative Oology with other members of the Santa Barbara Society of Natural His tory and located this new museum on Puesta

garden asplanned,that the variety offlora in this

del Sol Road in Mission Canyon. Exhibits

sectiim beingmore numeroiLs than anywhere else

included Dawson’s bird egg collection as well

on the globe(mis the divine stamp q[ap(yroval on

as collections from several Society members.

The museum was renamed the Santa Barbara

the nu)vemait;Jurtherthat the p>roposed botanical highways will attract millimis ojtemristsfrom the world over, and that they will never be satisfied until they havefinally reached thefountain head ojthese great ribb<ms ojjloral beauty, the world botanicalgardais in Santa Barbara.^ Meeting notes described the ideas and social context: "[Speakers testified about] . . . the unique adaptability oj the Santa Barbara climate, soil and physical character to the purpose in view, as ivell as itsjdvorablc social conditiojis for developing local interest ayid support for

Museum of Natural History and Compara tive Oology in 1923 when Caroline Hazard donated two acres of land and money for the building(T a permanent museum.® 'Ihe Founding ojthe Blaksley Botanic Qarden Anna Dorinda Blaksley Bliss provided funding for the purchase of land for a botanic garden in 1926, adding gifts and an endow

such an underlaying. 'Ihesc conditions were

ment as time passed. She was representative of women in certain circles at that time; well

held to promise the possibility ojgmwing here a greater variety of(Mint life, under conditions

educated, full of vision and energy, and desir ous of making contributions to their commu

favoring natural andjidl development ofeach,

nity although not employed in remunerative

than anywhere else in the world,arid so making Santa Barbara a center oj botanical interest ivhich ivould attract the attention ofthe whole

occupations. Many women who received college educations or education abroad before World War II returned home to find that

world,and to which people ivoidd he led by the

their skills and fine minds did not enable them

proposed extension ofexhibits along the Pacific Coast I lighway in both directions.^

chose to marry and sublimate their energies

to obtain gainful employment. Many women

Although these plans never came to fruition, the foundation was laid for the for

into managing a household and garden and

mation of a botanic garden during the next decade.

women surged during these years.’*’ Anna Bliss was born into a well-to-do

Tlic Santa Barbara Museum ot Natural

family in St. Louis in 1851. Several years alter the death of her first husband, she mar ried William Henrv Bliss, the U.S. District

History, under whose auspices the Garden was originally formed, was an outgrowth

raising a family. Volunteerism by educated

NOTICIAS

4 Attorney in Sc. Louis, in 1894 and the couple

Prior CO moving to die area. Clemencs and

moved to New York City, While in New'

hi.s wife had dreamed ot forming a botanic

York, Anna Bliss belonged to the League of Political Education, a "vibrant group of suf

garden in Southern California at a site with a favorable winter climate.’'

fragists, whose fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate

with Bernhard and Irene Hoffmann, shar

people on the important issues of the day” She donated $500,000 to the League of Political Education for construction ol New York’s Town Hall building, which was completed in 1921."

Frederic and Edith Clements were friends

ing an avid interest in the arts as well as in the scientific pursuits of Mr. Hoffmann’s brother, Ralph, who became Director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in 1923. Bernhard and Irene Hoffmann had

The couple moved to Santa Barbara in 1914 and in 1918 their Moncccico estate,

settled in Santa Barbara in 1919. Bernhard

Ctisu Dorindd. was completed. The home

pecially interested in the city's architecture.

became a Montecico social center and tcxlay it

He purchased the Casa de la Guerra and had

serves as a retirement community. Anna Bliss was generous to her adopted community in

built adjacent to it a complex of retail outlets and offices, El Pasco,

a number of ways, but her enduring legacy in Santa Barbara is the beautiful garden she

of the Plans and Planting Committee of the

helped to found in Mission Canyon.

Among the many botanists and horticul turists who gravitated to the Santa Barbara area were the famous plant ecologist. Dr. Frederic Clemencs, and his wife. Dr. Edith

was very active in civic affairs and was es

Hoffmann served as founding chairman nonprofit Community Arts Association, and appointed Pearl Chase as his secretary.

Chase later wrote that Hoffmann was a practical idealist who worked tirelessly and with farsighted vision to make Santa Bar

Schwartz Clements, who had moved to

bara a beautiful city with an architecture in

San Diego around 1924. Clements had been

harmony with its historical background and

conducting both studies of plant relationships

adapted to its distinctive topography, its

(taxonomy)and ecological research at his Al

climate, and its delightful location.

pine Laboratory in Colorado for many years and also worked with Harvey Monroe Hall

'● ●

of the University of California at Berkeley.

He was particularly interested in studying inheritance of traits and determining which features were "fixed" and which might re spond CO experimental manipulations. He and others employed the use of "reciprocal trans

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plant gardens; ’ these consisted of gardens at .selected locales with differing envirtnimencal characteristics, such as elevation, tempera ture, and relative length ol growing season.’’

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Canyon. A research scientist, Clements left the administration ojthe Blaltsley Botanic ifuxlen in the hands ojothers ajteritsJounding in igib.

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h u\L\ largely the vision ojDi. Frederic Clanents that mtUeruili::edinioa botanicgarden in^^lission

X

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GAR[:)EN

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These cwo were ac the center of efforts to

Barbara, and for dune gardens on the shore

rebuild the shattered portions of the city in

eleven miles aivay. Mr.'and Mrs. Bernhard

the aftermath of a major earthquake which struck Santa Barbara on June 29, 1925. The

theirmvn beautifid gardens on theirlarge estate

I loffmann, prominent residents ofthe city, had

community came together as never before,

in the Canycm,and were interested enough in oiv

with new residents and old uniting on com

plans to assign several acresfor the scientific

mittees and connecting in public and private venues to provide aid and demonstrate com

fered protection againstfog and cold sea breezes,

munity spirit.

and the valley soil ivas deep and rich.''

In 1924. two years prior to the founding of the Garden, Dr. Clements wrote Bernhard Hoffmann:

Clements lived adjacent to the Hoffmanns

Ihe plansfor the combined botanical and

experimaits.Iheivestem ivallofthe Canyon of

Arriving in Santa Barbara in 1925, the at the base of Mission Canyon, where they remained until Dr. Clements’s death in 1945.

experimental gardens have assumed definite

This became the site of the experimental

fonn,and one that lool{s attractive to the planner

gardens they used in various studies.

at least... I have striven for a certain unity of theJourphases that appeal to me most, namely,

Soon after moving to Santa Barbara, Dr. Clements consented to serve as the Honor

exhibition, u-hich is largely a matter of exotics;

ary Curator of Botany for the Santa Barbara

conservation, through the influence of ivild gardens; demonstration, by means of examples

Museum of Natural History where he gave talks and wrote articles for the Micseum

of natural ratherthan naturalistic landscapmg;

Leaflet series. In late 1925. Ralph Hoffmann

and experimcyitation, ivhich ivould spread the spirit of inquiry over the zvhole enterprise, 'lo

arranged a meeting between Clements and the trustees of the Museum and members

render the community service that is akvays in

of the Garden Club to discuss the botanic

my thoughts,such a garden shoidd be given the opportunity to mal{e themo.st direct contactsivith

garden proposal. Dr. Elmer J. Bissell, who

the schools,theparbsystem,neighborhood elides, etc. 1 assume that it ivoidd bear some organic relations to your "Plans and Planting Branch ” from the very outset.

1 shall bring the outlines and suggestions ivith me in the hope that ive can disciuss them at an early date....In orderthative may coyitrilnite as much to this as possible, ive are planning to mabe Santa Barbara headquariers this spring and to mabc the varioiesjourneysfrom there as a base.'^^ Edith Clements wtocc about the search for such a location in her memoirs: Wefound an ideal location for the main coastal gardens in ^Mission Canyon at Santa

Anna Dorinda Blabsley Bliss provided initial funding for the purchase of the Botanic Qarden site. The Blabsley Botanic Qanlen was named in manory of herfather, Henry Blabsley. Santa Barbara I listorical Society photograph.

was present ac the meeting, reported a few

NOTICIAS

6

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Mission Canym, cd.i(^n‘y. Ihc boiddas at left center marf thefuture enhwice of the Blafsley Botanic CjUnten. Santa Barbara I listorical Society

days later that he thought he might have a

both exotics and natives in diHerent plantings

potential donor lor the property purchase for

tliac would span miles in the area, including

the new garden.

a dune garden to be planted along Cabrillo Boulevard and a montane oarden at the crest

In early 1926. Dr. Clements wrote pages of planning notes, variously named the "Modern Botanical Garden." "Blakcslee [sic]

of the Santa Ynez Range. He also proposed

Botanic Garden” and "Santa Barbara Botanic

planting a conservation garden of plants na tive to California or the West. Clements was

Garden." In thc.se notes, he expressed a clear

among the early scientific visionaries who

vision for a garden as a research and educa tional institution, with remarkable insights into ways to engage the public in learning.

recognized the richness of the California flora and impending threats due to urbanization and outdoor recreation.

Perhaps the chief fmetinn ofa botanical

7/ic diversity of climate and toljography that

garden is exhibition, by tvhich the kinds,names, uses, behavior and relationships of plants are made available to all those interested, at the

make the state imkine physically also is rejlected in the exceptional richness ojitsflora andfauna.

same time that it develops the interest ofntlws.

vicinity ofthe large cities and the rapid extcitsum

But the flora has already suffered badly in the

It may be made to reveal a uvrld offascinating

of motor travel threatens many of the choicest

facts abtmt living things,many ofthem unknoivn

species ivith extinction.

Clements envisioned a garden in which

even to the devoted lover ofgardens or nature.

;;o

While, the name is a necessui-y handlefor

there would be several planting themes; plant

thoseu'hoxvouLl kmnvajKlu.se plants,it shoidd

community displays(redwood, big tree, oak-

he incidental to a kamvledge ofuses, relation-

madrone. prairie, desert, chaparral, aquatic),

.ships, behaviorajid the lilte.''^

plant family groupings (lerns. lilies, peas,

His original proposal embraced gardens of

etc.), groupings of plant genera, experimental

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

7

gardens, and gardens represendng different

1926, Frederic Clements expressed a desire to

climate regimes. He even suggested plant

establish a botanic garden and came to Santa

ings tor the upper roadway leading into the

Barbara with that goal in mind. Dr. Clements

Garden- -lemonade berry {I{hiis integrifolia). sugarbush(/(.outfa), laurel sumac{A/d/osma

had prepared pages of planning documents to‘that end and alluded to them in his 1924

lawina). and hollyleaf cherry(Pmmesf/ia/o-

letter to Bernhard Hc^ffmann. Dr. Clements

/id)—which arc there to this day.

Clements discussed his concepts for a

recalled later that Anna Bliss purchased the original thirteen acres as a direct result of

botanic garden with Ralph Hoffmann in

presentations he had made to the Board of

1925,^’ and it may be assumed that he also

Trustees ol the Museum of Natural History as well as to the Garden Club. Accordina

shared his planning documents, since they arc excerpted by Hollmann in his article in

to him, Elmer J. BisscII was present at the

the April 1926 Santa Barbara Museum ol

meetings and said he might have someone

Natural History

who could help fund the venture. Here are Clements’ exact words:

Leaflet:

It is Jiot difficult to imagine the botanical gardens of Santa Barbara in future time as a

In coming to Santa Barbara in 2925 2?i

series of bcautifidand significant units reaching fnmi the sea to the crest of the mountains, con-

the ho(?e offinding better groiving conditions

nected by a drive lined ivith trees, shnibs and 22

fknversfrom all joarts of the earth.

The new botanic garden was ofltcially

for experimental plants during the uhnter, I discussed the project uith A!r. }\(.ilph I loffmann, then Director of the J^'lusewn of Natural I listory. He ivas attracted by the idea of combining experimental ivorf and

loLinded on March 16. 1926 at a meeting of the Santa Barbara Mu.seum of Natural His

piddic gardens in a botanical garden bearing

tory Board ol Trustees. Anna Bliss donated

a novel character, and suggested that I meet

$16,000 to be used to purchase the undevel

the 'Irustees of the Nluseum and membo's of

oped parcel and administer the new garden.

the Cjarden Club to discuss the proposal.'Ihis

The only conditions she imposed were that

teas carried into effect ivith the consequence

the garden be known as the Blakslcy Botanic

that Dr. Bissell,ivhoivas present at the meet

Garden, and that the gift be held in memory

ing, told me afew days later that he thought

ol her lather. Henry Blakslcy The property, consisting ol two tracts of land, one with 11.01 acres and the other with 2.06 acres, was

he had a prospect who might contribute the funds needed.

conveyed by Mrs. Mary D. Richter to the

agent.Air.[James] Wagner,heard that we were

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

lookingfor a site and took A'Irs. Clements and

for $13,100 on April 2, 1926.

myself up to the Rjchter tract inA4ission Canon

A shon time aftanvard a local real estate

[sic] to determine its possibilities.'Ihis proved SO AIlistorical Debate Some versions <4 the Garden’s establish ment assert that Frederic Clements conceived

attractive that I immediately got in touch ivith Dr. Bissell and asked him to come out and look thegmund overwith reference to its po.ssibilities. / le did so,and became ver\ enthusiastic alrout it

ol the Garden, its purposes, its design, and

and the oppottunities it offeredfor developing a

its plantings, and then served as the hrst

garden of dual character. Soon after he brought

Director. Others locus on Elmer J. Bissell as the Garden’s first Director.

What is known, based on Frederic and

A Irs. Bliss to the pwperty and as a consequence she told him to go ahead ivith the plansfmorga nizing a botanic garden

Edith Clements’own writings, is that, prii^r

Ihe novel feature of the plan was to

to the year ol the Ctarden’s establishment in

include representative areas of the various

NOTIC1AS

8 plant societiesjound in the gaieral neighbor 24 hood,jwm the mountains to the sea.

ivith its associates ofthe inontanejorest, v;hiie oakivoods, chaparml, sagebrush and prairie are being planted not 07ily ivith species typical

Contemporaneous minutes and reports from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural

oj them i'n California, but also ivith close rela-

History unambiguously identified Clements as the Garden's first Director, acknowledged

and auginented communities are expected to

Anna Bliss as the person whose financial con tributions allowed Clements’ideas to come to

joundation ojpaleo-ecology, as ivell as to yield

f tuition, and the Bissells as contributors on an

tines from other climates. These reconstructed contribute experimental resultsfmbuilding the 27

operational level. Further. Dr. John C. Mcr-

direct valuesfor acclimatization.

Clements was lirst and foremost a re

riam, president of the Carnegie Institution,

search scientist and spent long periods of the

which supported Clements’work from 19171941. visited the Garden to oversee progress on several occasions. An article in 'The Santa

as well as at other experimental stations in Nebraska and elsewhere. When in Santa

year at his Alpine Laboratory in Colorado

Barbara Qardener. written by Lockwood and

Barbara, he engaged in research at the "main

Elizabeth de Forest, stated. "The Carnegie

garden site" by his house in Mission Canyon as well as at the beach site at Cc^al Oil Point

Institution will co-operate with the Museum of Natural History in the work done at the Gardens and the direction will be under Dr.

that had been provided by Mrs. Colin Camp

Clements, now honorary curator of botany at the Museum. ●2S

time at the new botanic garden, despite his

Yet no internal documents have been uncovered detailing Clements’administrative work at the Garden. Museum of Natural

bell. He does not seem to have spent much involvement during the conceptual phase.

Whatever the formal arrangements were lor rhe new Garden’s administration, the Bissells were the ones that could be found at

History documents from the period made

the Garden site on a daily basts from 1926

it clear Clements was expected to serve as Director of the new garden, and initial plant

to 1936. Elmer Jefferson Bissell and his wife.

Ervanna Bowen Bissell, retired from Roch

ings were even delayed until he returned from

ester. New York to Santa Barbara in 1920.

his Alpine Laboratory at the end of summer 1926.^^ The record is silent on his intentions

They purchased a home on Glendessary Lane

regarding management of the new garden on a day-to-day basis and the extent of his

Stone Acres, a "little garden among big rocks

expected involvement. Certainly the initial

yon.

layout of the Garden reflected Clements’

surgeon at Genesee Hospital in Rochester for

community concepts, and he wrote of the

over thirty years, while Mrs. Bissell acquired

redwood planting at the Garden in 1927: Several neiv stations for acclimatization

a passion for plants there, tending a lovely

studies have been installed during the past two

University of Rochester.

years. The most extensive oj these is the Blaksley Botanic Qarden at Santa Barbara. Ihis is located in Mission Canyon where the stream

At the meeting that established the Gar den in March 1926. Dr. Bissell was nominated to the Board of Trustees of the Santa Barbara

in lower Mission Canyon, which they called . . - where Goleta Valley meets Mission Can"29

Dr. Bissell served as an ophthalmic

garden and pursuing botany courses at the

has cut a deep gorge in an outlying ridge oj the

Museum of Natural History, a position he

Santa Inez[sic] Range. Redwoods and associ

held for the next ten years. By September

ated shnibs have been planted and it is expected

of that year, the Museum reported, "Instead

to develop the herbaceous layers as the shade

of planting a heterogeneous mass of exotic

increases. The lower portion ofthe canyon is de

material, a definite plan has been thought out

voted to a annmunity gnnip o/Sequoia gigantea

by Dr. Clements and is now being carried out

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

9

by Dr. Bissell, showing the native California

the composition of the Blaksley Botanic Gar den Committee to remain the same as in 1928

plants in their natural associations.

’30

Bissell was sixty-five when he began

with the addition of Dr. Clements.

working at the Garden, and Mrs. Bissell

The Clements continued to live in Santa

was sixty-six. Caroline Hazard wrote of the

Barbara until Dr. Clements’ death in 1945.

Bissells' partnership. "She and her husband

He had expressed great initial enthusiasm lor the establishment ol the Garden, outlin ing educational and aesthetic objectives, in addition to his interest in research plantings and experimental gardens. After 1927, he never referred to the Garden in research publications.

It is not clear what precipitated Cle ments' diminished involvement with the Garden he helped to plan. Some possibili ties include involvement with his extensive research pursuits, lack of interest in adminis tration. or differences in approach and style between himself and the effusive, flowery Ervanna Bowen Bissell. This latter idea is given some credence by an interview with Dr. Clements several months before his death in u’hich he is asked about his role in the Garden’s establishment. He describes the events in detail, and then makes a distinction

Elmer].Bissellandhis wife,E^-vanna BoU'en Bissell, supervised the initial laycmt ofthe Qarden grounds and the selection ofthefoundation plantings.

between designing plantings that are utilized lor experimental and scientific study and those chat focus solely on display. Although the two approaches can easily be melded, it requires the collaboration of scientist and designer. His words speak of this conflict impersonally;

worked so perfectly together in the inception

However,it proved dijficidt to combine the

and development of the Garden it is hard to

research idea ivith the development ofpopidar

tell where one began and the other left off.

interest in the Qarden and in consequence

The technical knowledge was hers- -the ad

this part ojthe plan was relinquished.

In late 1944. Sellar Bullard. Garden

ministration his, so they worked together in a beautiful harmony. Dr. Bissell was first listed as Director of the Garden in 1928, and Mrs. Bissell was added as Associate Director in 1929. They served in these roles until 1936.

33

Board President, sent a letter to Clements acknowledging the importance of his contri butions in "promoting the idea of a botanic garden of native plants for Santa Barbara, in suggesting the present magnificent site, and

The last reference made to Frederic Cle-

in giving advice and assistance in the early

ments involvement with the Garden during his lifetime appeared in the Museum of Natu

stages of the Garden’s development." Dr.

ral History Board Minutes for January 1929. which included a note that Dr. Bissell wished

Clements was then elected as an Honorary Member of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Association.-^^

NOTICIAS

10 Other Versions

Museum of Natural History prior to the

ojthe Qarden’s Founding

Garden's inception.

In 1936, Paul Marshall Rea, Director ot the Santa Barbara Museum oi Natural His

Many versions of the Garden's estab lishment have been related, some of which minimize Frederic Clements’involvement in

tory. recalled an exchange with E. J. Bissell: In a convcrsdlion soon after I came to Santa

the Garden’s founding, suggesting that Anna Bliss asked Dr. Bissell to direct the Garden

Barbara, Dr. Bissell told the story as Jolloivs:

from its inception. Differing accounts have

Bissell stood on the present site oj the Qarden

led to a great deal of confusion concerning

ivith txvo representatives ojthe Carnegie histi-

One day, after a botanical reconnaissance, Dr.

the early focus of the Garden. Some of these

tiUion of Washington, ivhen one oj them said,

give the impression that the Garden was cre

'Mdiat a petject placejur a botanic garden!"...

ated primarily as a display and recreational

Dr. Bissell stated that he ivas j'ascinated by

facility when, in fact, the Garden’s original focus was research and education.

this dream, but had no thought of its serious

Ervanna Bowen Bissell, 1930: In igz6 when this land was divided into small lots and ojfered for sale, a generous womayi, Wlrs. William H. Bliss, bought the

devehypment. ‘lhat evening he happened to be with J^lrs. Bliss and told her oj his exciting ajiemoon,ivhen she staitled him by saying, "If '36

you want it. I'll buy it.

In this version, Bissell and two repre

whole oj it and asked herfriend. Dr. Fdmer J.

sentatives of the Carnegie Institution (one

Bissell, to develop itfor the public’s benejit....

likely being Dr, Frederic Clements) are all

Ihe Director, being also a miLsewn trustee and

present when the idea ol a "perfect place tor

fully understanding the situation, pwmised to

a botanic garden” is formulated and discussed,

give his services and also to endeavor to make

although Bissell had no "thought ot its seri

the yemng botanic Qarden the musaim's outdiKm

ous development."

Maunscll Van Rensselaer. Director of the

iS

wing,a o'edit to it, not a care.

In this version. Frederic Clements and

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden from 1936-

the Carnegie Institution of Washington

1950. told this story to Rea in 1936; Dr. Bis.sell .stated that he and Airs. Bissell

w'erc not mentioned, only the Bissells. It incorrectly implied that Dr. Bissell had been a member of the Board ol Trustees of the

iverc in the habit ofpicnicking with y\lrs. Bliss at the site oj the Alission Dam and that on one ojthese occasions ^ they observed sur' h veying stakes which ■ tended to conjirm a

Carving out a ixitanic i ^ gulden in nigged A iis» sion Canyon tt’U.s a jormidable task- dhe ^ Blakslcy Boulder i jronts what would ^ become the Aleadoiv Section of the Qanlen in this scene from the igios.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

11

rcporl ikat Dr.Biasdl had /learci rc^ardin^ the dcvdojyment oj the area as an allotmeyit. Dr. Bissdt stated that these circumsUmces led to

Bliss; Dr. Elmer J. Bissell, soon to become Director; Mrs. Bernhard Hoflmann; two in dividuals who had ollered additional land for

the purchase oj the land by y^lrs. Btis:ijorthe

Dr. Clements’ research, Mrs. Colin Campbell

purpose oj'preserving a historical site and their

and George Knapp; Santa Barbara Museum

javorite picnic ground;and that following this

ol Natural History Board President Harold

purchase consideration ivasgiven to the uses to

Sidebotham; and Frank Kelly, another Board member. The committee articulated its aim

which the land might bepiU;and that it ivas in this ivay that the cooperation ivith the Carnegie Institution arose.-^^ This version had the BisselLs and Anna

"to so unite the aesthetic, educational and scientific that this garden will hold a unique ’.?H place in the horticultural world.’

Bliss relaxing at cheir favorite spot and

Work commenced on the grounds on

noticing surveying stakes. After a plan was the property was purchased, and then the

April 7. 1926. The task was daunting. Sup port facilities for stall and infrastructure for Garden maintenance needed construction,

idea (.)! cooperating with the Carnegie Institu

as well as clearing ol existing vegetation

tion developed.

so that garden plantings could be installed.

hatched for preserving this wonderful locale,

In subsequent articles in the Santa

Another priority was signage and labels to

Barbara INews-Press and other publications

guide visitors and enhance their appreciation

the picnic story was retold many times. Al

of the displays.

though there may have indeed been a picnic

Despite obstacles, the enthusiasm of

involving the Bissells and Anna Bliss, IDr.

the Bissells was palpable. "The property is

Clements reported that he and his wile found

wonderfully adapted tor a botanic garden.

the parcel with the help of a real estate agent

It has open and wooded slopes, moist and drv areas, a erreat varietv ol soils, and more

and proposed it as a potential botanic garden garden based on natural plant communities

site. Dr. Clements' original idea ol a botanic

than half of the property is covered with hundreds of native wildllowers, shrubs and

remains to this day.

trees.

Further, the Bissells decided to use

the indigenous trees and shrubs among the Breaking Qroimd—the Early Jears

sandstone boulders scattered throughout the

(igzb-ig^h)

property as a backdrop lor the plantings,"to make the plan lit the ground and not to twist

The structure and lavout of the propc^sed

the ground to ht a plan."'’'^ This followed

Blaksley Botanic Garden were detailed in the

one of the hallowed landscaping principles

planning documents prepared by Clements in 1926; in essence, these documents served as

advocated by Charles Sprague Sargent, founder of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard

the Garden’s first master plan. He proposed

University, and others.

several major themes for the display portion ol the Garden, with accompanying plant lists

John Bcrtolli, was one of the first garden ers and worked there Irom 1926 to 1945.

for each. These planting themes{community

Anna Bliss transferred him there from Casa

and taxonomic groupings), design guidelines (harmony of design, low in front and tall in

Dorinda. He recalled this early period;

back, masses and drifts ol plantings, etc.),

to make it possible Jor a car to gel in and up to

OnApnily,igati... my first tissignmait was

and plant labels continue to be essential ele

the iveeping oak tnee aljove the Blakslcy Boulder

ments of the design to this dav.

idiich ivas the original wagon mad thatemssed Aiission Canyon before lunnel IC>ad ivas built.

The first Blakslcy Botanic Garden Com mittee consisted ol Anna Dorinda Blakslcy

. . . for the Jirst three months I worked alone

NOTICIAS

12 ivith [he help oj Dr. Dissdl’s lumse man in the aftomexm ongawalcleanup and removing dead trees in the canyon.[A] portion ofthe meaduiv

original ideas for plane community displays, with one addition, an island section. Hence, the Garden was planted with eight commu

was ploived Iry Luigi lyeginato ivith a team oj

nities beginning in 1927: desert, sagebrush,

horses. In July igzb three men ivere hired and

chaparral, oak-madronc.Sierra big-tree, coast

Boh Canterbury as headgardenerand theplant

redw(K)d, prairie, and island.

In the Garden’s early years, one of the

ing had started. Dr.Bissell handled the pay roll and all administration business. Mrs. Bissell was the supervisor ojthe project.

No drawings or planning documents exist from this period, yet the Bissclls. their tiny

43

major difhculties was obtaining seeds or container-grown native plants, as few were available through nurseries. Further, little information was available on the care and

staff, and a few volunteers accomplished an

propagation of native plants. As a result,

amazing amount in the first nine months.

legendary California plant collectors such

A lath house, tool house, superintendent’s

as Carl Purdy, Theodore Payne, and Lester Rowntree obtained seeds and cuttings for a

cottage, public restrooms, and garage were constructed, along with an entrance road and

range of early Garden plantings. The Bis-

parking area. They laid three thousand feet of

sclls also sent the grounds superintendent,

water pipes and installed a drinking fountain.

By the end of 1926, several trails traversed

Robert Canterbury, on collecting trips to the California Islands and to areas within

the new garden, marked by carved directional

150 miles of Santa Barbara to gather plant

signs. One man worked for several weeks

material lor the Garden.John Bertolli recalled

digging out poison oak. and a tree surgeon

that the Garden purchased initial planting

tended over forty oak trecs.

Quantitics of boulders had to be cut into

material from Payne, including Torrey pine {Pinus torrcycina). gray pine (P. sabiniana).

smaller blocks and hauled away. Heavy

Monterey pine (P. nu.liata). Santa Cruz Is

clay mud made the unpaved county road

land ironwood {Lyonothamniis (hribundus).

approaching the Garden impassable during much of winter, and dust in the summer

{l\,ovata). and others.

proved problematic. Chipped scone from

lemonade hcTTy{l\husmtcgriJolia). sugar bush The tiny staff handled an impressive

years of quarrying in the canyon was mixed

quantity of plants in the early years. In 1928

with the clay to create a foundation for

alone Garden plantings included 2,600 trees

the entrance driveway and a parking space located near the new pond and desert com

and shrubs representing 250 species. They set out over 2,000 bulbs, other herbaceous

munity.

Ervanna Bissell made a sift of three rock

types of seed were sown, and the lath house

pools, which were planted w'ith aquatic spe

contained over one thousand plants in various

cies. beginning a pattern of providing gifts

phases of development.'’'

perennials, and ferns. Two hundred different

for special features to enhance the Garden,

By 1927 most of the new plants were

since money always seemed to be in shore

labeled, reinforcing the Garden's educational focus. Plant labels included common name,

supply. In 1927 Anna Bliss gave $120,000 to create an endowment for the new garden.

scientific name, family, and habitat, as sug

That year the Bissclls and the Museum

gested by Dr. Clements. "This policy has

Board decided that a policy "largely limiting

attracted much attention from both profes sional and amateur. . . and bids fair to make

the garden to the flora native to the Pacific slope from Mexico to Puget Sound" would 42

be prudent.

The Bissclls embraced Dr. Clements’

the Garden of ever increasing educational and scientific value." Mrs. John Bertolli was hired occasionally to "paint with a fine brush

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

■' A-

Mission Creek. Photograph by Jean PlayiviHxI.

Lupine and poppies, 1973. Photograph by Jacqueline Broughton.

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NOTICIAS

14 the plant labels.” That same year the Bissclls

the upper road have not been ornamental. The

posted a map of the community groupings and the trails leading to them for visitors

shrubs and perennials,recently moved ornewly

and placed a small open-air reference library under the oaks. A meteorological station was also installed."*^

rude burlap tents, or shielded by shingles, have

As the staff struggled to establish foun dation plantings, there were discouraging

planted, which were protected from the sun

by

also beenfarfrom decorative. We apologize to a 47

sujfering publicfor so ojfending its eye.

Mrs. Bisscll created the initial design of the Garden and her correspondence and

losses of plants in both the nursery and in the

published articles reflect her imaginative

ground. Browsing deer and gophers, squirrels, held mice, rabbits, quail, sparrows, and other

spirit and aesthetic sensibilities. Describing

birds ace hundreds of young plants. Further

the Garden and its goals, Mrs. Bissell wrote in 1930;

LEFT:The entrance to the Blaksley Botanic Qarden,early ig^os.

RJCjlTT: Education was a priority from day one at the Qarden.

Note the early label in the right foreground.

The Blaksley Boulder is at left.

problcms arose from plant diseases and insect

Blaksley Botanic Qarden is an exhibition

pests, introduced from plants that had been

garden;its aim is to grow attractive plants na~

dug up in the wild. Many plants brought

tive to the Pacific Slope; its plan is to set these

from other parts of the state or the Pacihe

plants in communities, artistically arranged;

Northwest would not grow in this region.

its object is to show the beauty ofnative plants

Others would only grow in certain loca

and their adaptability j'or use in private gar-

tions. Irrigation requirements varied broadly.

dens;and its slogan is Back to the Soil—with

Constant experimentation and replanting

native plants. Back io California’s soil—not

were required.

Ervanna Bowen Bisscll described this period with her usual humor:

with thirsty exotics—but with California’s drought-resistant plants which conserve the 48 state's ivater supply.

Nativeplants object to beingputin an adobe

She believed landscaping was a "matter

plaster cast. Ihey rebel, also, against animal

of taste, line, mass, proportion,” and Garden

fertilizers. Thus latter idiosyncrasy has made it more difficult to turn the Qarden s clay into rich

plantings should be "artistically arranged” in natural communities.'^®

loam. Vie piles oj decaying vegetation mixed with lime and the truckloads ofsharp sand along

Bisscll gave considerable thought to the plac-

It is obvious from her writings that Mrs.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN ing and arrangement of the plantings, as well

15 Ihe Early Plantings

as associated signage and other details. She noted which species looked best in masses and drifts and which served well as the sole

Vic Alcudinc y\rcd: The broad sweep of meadow Iramed by native coast live oaks at

locus in a planting. The relative heights of

the fringes and sandstone peaks in the distance

mature specimens were also important con

has served as a focal point lor visitors since

siderations in her designs. She had a particular

the Garden’s inception, though planting and

fondness for native rock, personally directing

design in this area have undergone major

its placement, and liked to place a rock with

transformations through the years. lii 1926 a

every new planting,'’"’

team of horses plowed an area near the large

The Garden obtained design assistance

boulder, which was then designated as the

from others as well, in particular Lockwood

Prairie Community, leaturing "annual and pe

de Forest and E, O. Orpet. The Museum of

rennial flowers and grasses ol the meadow and

Natural History had named Lockwood de

prairie portions ol the West,"’’ Three years later, in 1929, horticulturist Peter Riedel vol

Forest as botanist for the Blaksley Botanic Garden in 1928 and he served as a consultant lor the Garden Irom time to time; Edward O, Orpet served as Chief Propagator for the United States Department of Agriculture

unteered his services to clear a larger area and plant it with non-native Bermuda grass.

As the Garden was not originally con ceived as solely a native plant garden, there

(Bureau ol Plant Industry) in Chico bclore

was no conflict with the planting ol a non-na

coming to Santa Barbara, where he was a

tive grass in the Meadow area. The Bermuda

Superintendent of Parks from 1920-1930,

grass Meadow created a "grassy space across

NOTICIAS

16 which one looked at the mountains—an in

chc Meadow co empty Finally into Sheffield

terval of green silence amid chords ol color.” in the words of Ervanna Bissell.-'^^

Reservoir. After the city removed the water pipes many months later, the Meadow was

Her writings provide a glimpse ot the

plowed again, and Ciarden staff dug a channel to create a "stream” that flowed into a "lake,"

aesthetic effects she was trying to achieve in her designs, "an interval of green silence amid chords of color,” which evokes power ful visual images ol composition, form, and

where montane moisture-loving species were planted. This lake was dedicated in 1931 to honor E. J. Bisscll’s .seventieth birthday.

ate a strong visual impact. Subsequent maps

Six years alter the Garden’s founding, most sections had been laid out and were

and descriptions from this period depicted

largely complete. Mrs. Bissell then turned

the Meadow as a grassy expanse surround by large flower beds, planted with annuals,

trom community di.splays to the second of Dr. Clements' exhibition ideas, taxonomic

herbaceous perennials, and some shrubs.

groupings. Utilizing the beds surrounding

color—a painterly approach intended to cre

Several water Icaturcs were placed in the

the Meadow, she installed displays of wocxly

Garden in its very earliest days, includinga

genera that exhibited diversity of form and

small pond by the edge ol the Meadow, still

habit. She also established plant family dis

present above the Blaksley Boulder, which was originally planted with water plants

plays nearby in the Chaparral Section 7/ic Meadmv Oaks Area: The west side

rimmed with succulents. Dr. Bissell paid

ol the Meadow, with its large oaks gracing

for the construction of this pond in 1928

the edge of the Canyon rim. has served as a

in commemoration of Mrs. Bissell’s sixty-

gathering place and shady respite since the

eighth birthday.

In 1929, there was a break in the main

quarried there in earlier years, Mrs. Bissell

city water pipe from Ciibraltar Reservoir

took advantage ol piles of rubble to transform

and the city constructed emergency pipes

the area into a "rock garden for shade-kwing

Garden’s inception. Since rocks had been

that climbed Irom a pool behind Mission

plants." Weathered stone steps led up to a

Dam, up the canyon’s steep hank, and across

level place from which there was a fine view ».

Ihe Qarden has un dergone eon St an t metamorl.diosisJwm its fieginnmg.s. 'Die pond slunvn in this igiS photograph is there to day, but the plantings around it have com pletely changed.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC CJARDEN

17

ol the canyon and old Mission Dam. Scacs

stretches oj sand, the Jinn mountains behind

placed under the crees and beside die paths olTcred visitors a "restful welcome.”-^'’ These

sentineLs standing alivays there, like inexorable

Icatures remain to this day.

like a guard,and the tall,gaunt cacti, likefierce guardians offate. I can Jio more be interested,

Ihc Desert Community: Ervanna Bowen

find pleasure, in a phase ofplant lij'e ivhich has

Bisscll designed the Desert Community,

struggled against hard conditions and won,

beginning in 1927. with input fnmi E. O. Orpet, Lockwood de Forest, and Peter Riedel.

through a meager existence, a hare subsistence

Among the early plantings were the Acacia

than Ican find diversion in a cripple overcoming his handicap.

and the non-native mission cactus (OpuntiaficuS'indica). from which Bertolli once

her colleagues created striking combinations

made wine. By 1928, 115 species had been planted.

Although the general policy was to restrict Garden plantings to species native to the Pacific slope, staff made many excep

Despite her sentiments. Mrs. Bisscll and of desert plants amidst boulders, placing pale green palo verde and deeper green mcsquice in Ironc of gray rocks, punctuated vK’ith clumps of Opunlia, Agave, and wildflowers.

Describing the transition Irom the Desert

tions early in the desert garden’s history. In addition to cacti Irom Texas and Mexico,

to the Chaparral Community. Mrs. Bisscll

palo verde {Parkinsonia aculeata) Irom the

dendroideum) are like patches ot sunshine

desert Southwest and other non-native plants also were displayed. Mrs. Bisscll wrote in

among the Mountain-Lilac’s blue sky.

Ihe Island Trail: The Island Trail was

1930 chat the Desert Community included

established bclo'w the Meadow adjacent to

wrote, "The masses of Mexican sedum (5, ”.S9

’’as many fine specimens of cactus as could

Mission Canyon Road in 1926-27 This area

be met with anywhere.”^ So popular were desert plants that she created an extension

seemed to be Mrs. Bisscll’s personal lavoritc, and she wrote frequently about it in Garden

of the Desert Community to the north along

publications as well as in a special article for

the canyon’s rim, hanging "like an eyelash

the Qardeners'ChronicleoJAmerica. Quite a

on the canyon’s rough facc."-’'^

bit of grading was required initially to achieve the desired cflect.

Actually, she was not particularly inter ested in desert plants, especially cacti. "As you may have nc^ticed. 1 cake no interest in cactus.”she wrote to her assistant. Maunsell

up—aided by horses and a scraper—into two

Van Rensselaer, in 1935. "I chink having a

small hills with a miniature canyon between.

’desert garden’ as so many people wish is an abnormal interest, a fad which will die

Fourpools —fed it is supposedfivm a spnng hid den in the bankabove—empty their waterfrom

out after a while. More chan that, the desert

one betsin into another. Time-vvom rocks left the

with its giant cactus is part of the saddest

ridge w-hcre Nature piled them and moved only

moments of my life."

In 1930, cheBissells' beloved son. Harold,

little bwok. Irees,shnd?s,herbs and ivildflowers

In the Island Community even the contour oJ the land is changed. Iheground has reared itselj

by man's upheaval,fanned these pools and the

had been taken seriously ill in Birmingham, Alabama, where he lived with his wile and

found on the islands are planted in this section.

two children. News of his death reached the

trance steps and the man -made hills. These will

Bissells as they were en route by train to see him; upon hearing the news. Dr. Bissell had a heart attack.

and red snapdragons indigenous to the islands.

lie slept, almost unconscious himselj, and 1 ivatclied the gathering livilight over the

Qrass is tognrw in the open area betueen the en be someday shwbby masses of island cherries From a seat among the cypresses one has an unobstructed view of the sea and the Channel Islands that give this section its name.

NOTICIAS

18 Mrs. Bisscll extolled the beauty ot island plants in her publication, even stating that they "grow old so gracefully." She described each genus in detail, calling attention to spe cial features a visitor or reader might other

seventy-five ot which were planted along the new Island Trail. Collecting trips in subsequent years continued to add to this ccdlcction.

wise miss. Island buckwheats were carefully

'IhcAtrayo: Among the iirst trails laid out in the Garden in 1926 was the Arroyo Trail, and

sited against boulders at the cop of the path, and red buckwheat {Eriogonwn grande var.

drainage From the Meadow during the rainy

its creation was a practical solution for handling

ndxesccns) edged the trail, backed by Santa Cruz Island buckwheat (/i. arborescerLs). and

season or after irrigation. From the beginning,

Saint Catherine's lace (£. giganteum). The leaves and inflorescences were used to evoke

placed along a stream course that probably followed the cc^ntours of a small ravine extant

sculptural images; of Santa Cruz Island buckwheat, Mrs. Bisscll said. "Some day a

scription ot brush clearing creates a \'ivid image

sculptor, remembering a Greek Acanthus or

of the transformations that tewk place.

water-loving, stream-side native plants were

when the Garden was founded, An early de

an Hgyptian Lotus, but seeking new forms ot

'Ike steep bank beside the Airoyo Irail is

beauty, will immortalize the Channel Islands

translinined. Violets and trilliums grotv ivkere

”61

by carving E. arborescens in stone.

By 1928. eighty-seven species were col lected on Santa Cruz Island tor propagation,

poison oak thrived, and pricldy phlox and yelloiv mimidus tumble over rocks once hidden lyy spraxvling Carissa grossA

Planting in thepoptdar I\edu-<HKi Section began in 2926 and was signijicanlly augme}ited in the midig-^os and early ig^os.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

19

7/ic Forest Section: In 1932, the Garden

coast redwood [Sequoiasanpervirens). Douglas-fir [Pseudotsugamenziesii). western hem

acquired 5.8 acres opposite the main entrance.

Noe only did tliis eliminate the risk of real

lock(7 sugaheterophyUa). canoe-cedar {'Ihuja

estate development, the new parcel enabled

plicata), Sitka spruce [Piceasitchavsis), Cali

arriving visitors to be surrounded by natu

fornia hay[L'mhellulariacalifomica). bigleal

ral scenery. Originally covered by an olive

maple [Acer maavphyllum), RJiododendnm,

orchard, this slope was interplantcd with

and many other redwood associates, and

native trees between the olives to slowly cre

planting commenced in 1926. The redwood

ate a forest section; over three hundred pines

community was "expected to develop the

and many toyon {I leteromeles arhutifolia). cherries {Pnmus ilicijolia subsp. lyonii). and

herbaceous layers as the shade increases.

Accession records indicate that seeds of

Ccanothus were planted along with native

coast redwood [Sequoia sempervirens) were

65

perennials and wildllowcrs.

”69

obtained from the "Redwood Empire” in 1934

By 1939, about three-quarters of the

and Richardson's Grove(Flumboldt County)

olives had been removed and replaced with a

in 1940, This led some people to chink the first

diversity of native trees. Once a roadway was

redwoods were planted in the 1930s. It seems

constructed in 1940, greater ease of access

possible that some ol the initial 1927 plantings

and horticultural progress became possible.

struggled along, and plantings in later years

'Ike Chaparral Community: Early re

may have augmented the early ones, which were not well documented.

ports on the Garden give little mention of this community, except that "the Chapar

'Ihe Canyon Trail: The Santa Barbara

ral Community is made from the plants

Museum of Natural History Annual Pypott

lorming the brush cover ot the mountains,

of 1926 mentioned three ncv>'ly-laid trails in

both north and south.

Opening this sec

tion was challenging, and involved quite

the canyon: the Canyon Trail, the Mission Falls Trail, and the Indian Trail. These paths,

a bit of clearing. Plantings ol Ceanothus

which ran the "length ol the canyon,” were

and other chaparral plants, as well as plant

ambitious undertakings during the first year

family groupings, were the highlights ol this section.

of Garden work. In that period, the Garden

The Big-'Iree Community: Frederic Cle

did not own the property west of the Mission Dam. nor was there a bridge. In 1927. a pool

ments’ original plan tor this community

created above the Dam provided habitat for

included twenty tree species, with giant

aquatic plants.

sequoia {Sequoiadendnm giganteum) at the top ol the list. "In the canyon a group of big

A ktamorphosis into a Non-Prolit

trees. Sequoiagigantca. have been set out, and near them Incense Cedar. Silver fir. Dogwood and other trees and shrubs characteristic ol

In 1936. both Dr. and Mrs. Bissell re

the Sierras have been set out. '67 Bv 1930

signed as directors because ol poor health. In

the emphasis on this planting was modified,

just ten years, they had completed the basic

"The Big Tree Community is an experiment

layout ol the Garden and loundation plant

to sec il the Sequoia gigantca and its associ

ings. constructed several buildings. labeled

ates will grow in this locality.

This section

many plants, assembled a small library, and

was eventually discontinued.

published several articles about the Garden.

'Ihc Coast l\^:dwood Cnmmimity:Frederic Clements had also assembled an extensive

justifiably celebrated their hard work and

Tributes to the Bissells Irom this period

plant list lor the coast redwood community

creative endeavt)rs. "The esthetic quality

in his planning documents that w(^uld feature

of the Garden has been developed with rare

NOTICIAS

20

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i

■4

Inig^^the Bissdh hired Maimsell \ <;m Ii^nsseUieras an assistant. I k ivoidd theii serve as Qarden Directorfrom ig'^Sto 1950. V’un Rpisselaerprcnnotedresearch,education,and publication during his tenure. He also upgraded plant inventory and record-keeping.

discriminacion and grcac ingcnuicy. Full ad

he founded with a friend. He was a gracious

vantage has been taken of the steep canyon

young man, writing such salutations as "my

with its sheltering ring of hills and mountains

dear doctor Bissell” and "thank you for your

to make a place of entrancing beauty," wrote

gocid letter" in his correspondence. In his

Paul Marshall Rea in his tribute. One surpris

letter to Dr. Bissell about the job opportu

ing detail—Dr. Bisscll had arranged to have orchestral and vocal music broadcast from

nity at the Garden, he stated, "I was very

hidden loud speakers down in the canyon to

personality, your seriousness of purpose, and

enhance the visitor’s experience.

70

much impressed with your most pleasing the painstaking way in which you do your

A transition period actually began two

work that 1 immediately developed a great

years before the Bissclls’ resignation. The

feeling of confidence in you and know that I

couple began looking lor an assistant, and a

could work very easily and very pleasantly

young man named Maunsell Van Rensselaer,

with you."''

What Van Rensselaer did not tell the

who was called Van by his colleagues and Billy by his family, applied for the position.

Both Van Rensselaer and his wife, Elea nor, had attended the University of California at Berkeley from which the former graduated in 1923. He took a general degree, but also

Bissells, or anyone else at the Garden was that he came from a long line of famous and distinguished Van Rcnssclacrs. including a huge Colonial-era family that held vast tracts of land, over one million acres, called

completed courses in botany, forestry, and

Rcnssclaerswijck in New Nctherland (later

zoology. During the previous nine years,

New York), which now form large portions

he had worked with the public, establishing

of Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer counties in New York state. Another Van Rensselaer,

outdoor programs at a nature Icxlge and resort

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

21 Mrs. Bissell chose to direct her new assis

Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer (18511934), was a writer of books on architecture and is remembered as the "iirst woman arc

often on a twice-daily basis. In the first year

historian.” Stephen Van Rensselaer founded

ol correspondence, she gave Van Rensselaer,

the school that became Rensselaer Polytech nic Institute. Maunsell Van Rensselaer’s wife

direction in horticultural practices;

Eleanor, nee Eleanor Olmsted White, was a

tant by correspondence sent from her home,

who had no formal training in horticulture, Erysimum aspermum ...try it in a thickly

distant cousin ol the famous landscape ar

planted ma.s.s (it is weak

chitect. Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903).

massedjhackojthegodetia on right side ofen

Van Rensselaer kept all this information to him.self; he wanted to succeed on his o'\^’n

trance to Canyon Irail. Ihere is sunnow where

merits and became distant from his family

composition unless

the branches were cut aicay.

Tvly theoijis thisjoundedon action ojnative

72

of origin during this period.

The BisscIIs decided to hire Van Rens

seed. Seed lies dormant ij covered by d}-y dust and leaves, perhaps two seasons. Witness last

selaer in the spring of 1934. They had been

yearso dry;jeicflouers bloomed;both

working without financial remuneration at

and Payne told me they ivould not havefreshseed

the Garden, paying many expenses out of

to collect. Ihis year ivith abundant rains, seed

their own pockets. The Depression had taken its coll on the Garden’s endowment, and

goininated in fields oj wildfioivers. Surely the

funds were tight. Further, the Museum of

jor there was so little.'^ One cask chat needed attention was the

Natural History, during the tenure of Board

abundance did not come jrenn last year's seed

President Major Max Flcischmann, was bcsinnins to rethink its lons-tcrm commitment to the Garden.

system for the Garden. Museum Director

On May 21.1934, Dr, Bissell approached

”I gradually became aware chat Dr. Bissell

the Museum Board of Trustees with a request

kept neither accounts nor records of the Garden, and chat the lack of these was a

for approval of an assistant’s position at an

development of some type of record-keeping Paul Marshall Rea wrote during this period,

"77

source of increasing anxiety to the trustees.

annual salary of $2,000. This request was bound CO cause concern, since income from

There were no maps of irrigation, w'ater

the Blaksley Trust Fund had steadily declined

or ocher underground pipes or conduits. In

during the Depression years: by 1938 it was

addition, no documentation of the origin of

worth half of its original value. Further,

plants planted on the grounds or growing

the Museum had always been ’’opposed to

in the nursery existed. Hence, one of Van Rensselaer’s first casks as Curator was to

shouldering the financial responsibility of the "74

Blaksley Botanic Garden.

So when Flcischmann asked Bissell how

create plant records and ocher administra tive documentation. Van Rensselaer, who

this new position would be funded, the latter

was detail-oriented, developed lists of all

was prepared. He replied chat he and Mrs,

plant species in the Garden and attempted to

Bissell were willing to pledge their home, Stone Aa'cs. to the Museum for the benefit of the Blaksley Botanic Garden, as well as CO establish an endowment of $2,5,000 to

discover their original source, when possible.

He also sent many specimens to botanical authorities to confirm identification.

In his initial 1934 inventory. Van Rens

$50,000 to fund the assistant position and

selaer determined that there were 587 spe

provide ongoing support for the Garden.

cies and varieties of native plants on the

This offer was unanimously accepted by the Museum board and Van Rensselaer was hired

ol Dr. Thomas Harper Goodspeed. Director

75

CO assist the BisscIIs in June 1934.

Garden grounds. Ac the recommendation of the University of California Botanical

NOTICIAS

22

accessions for the plant collections at the

Garden. Van Rensselaer began the practice of accessioning each propagulc (seeds cut-

Garden;

tings, divisions) and assigning it a unique number. Other records ior each accession

oj Blaksley PUints. 'They are so nicely kept ayid

included dace acquired, condition of material,

ivill pwve valuable infuture days...ichen you

quantity, exact source location or informa tion, and name of collector. The unique

may not have time jor so muck ivorth'ivhile detail. %u ask about use ofivord Accessions

number was placed with the accession at

. . . My training ivas to reduce my tendency

all times, following it into the ground on a

joi' words ojLatin derivations towwxl those of

more permanent label when the accession

simplerforms, Anglo-Saxon. I have liked the word Additions, because it presupposed that

was ready for planting. Cultural records were also created for each species, which included propagation techniques, location of

I am much interested in yourbook^ ojrecoixls

one added to what ivas already on hand; also I thmk it less stilted.... 'Accessions”is a law

plantings, growth races, timing and length

term, a term ofweight. And as such it gives, or

of flowering period, moisture requirements,

rather impresses listeners ... Imir ivord is cor

78

pruning techniques, etc.

rect,a little more pretentious but cmimonly used 79

Mrs, Bissell gently poked fun at her assistant’s desire to begin using the word

by people in large institutions.

Van Rensselaer also initiated education

Cjardai Board President William Lassiter,Jowthf'om left, receives deed to propertyjust alcove the in tersection oj'lunnel andAiission Canyon roadsJrom owner Albert B. Watkins, ig^i. Watching, lejl to right,are FrederickLLliam,Mildred Bliss,I'rankMcCoy,Lends Lancaster,Aiaunsell Van litmsselaer, Anne Slow-l'ithian, and Clara Cjould.

it'*

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

23

programs and exhibits early in his tenure.

and were frequently ill. Tliey had given their hearts and most o( their financial resources,

A geology exhibit and "education center” placed under the Meadow Oaks in 1934

including their beloved Stone Acres, to the

featured books and magazines on natural

Garden. Perhaps they did not feel adequately appreciated.

Mrs. Bissell died in 1938, and her hus

history as well as postings ol information about the plantings, lists ot birds seen in the Garden, and other items ol interest. He

band died two years later. After the Garden

conducted Sunday classes lor Scout leaders

became an independent corporation in 1939,

and became involved with the Nature Study

the Bisscll property was deeded to the Garden

School, a ten-day program for teachers from the southwestern states that was initiated by

by the Museum Board.

Anna Bliss had died in 193o and her

Mrs. J. F. Manning in 1933.

daughter, Mildred Barnes Bliss(Mrs. Robert

Soon alter being hired. Van Rensselaer began pursuing horticultural studies ol Ccanothus and sent some ol his records to Mrs. Bisscll. In her reply to thank him. she expressed some leelings of regret about her work at the Garden, as well as perhaps some resentment that Anna Bliss did not provide more financial resources:

Woods Bliss), came to California to .settle her mother’s affairs. Mildred had married Robert Woods Bliss, the son of her mother’s second husband, in 1908. He was a foreign service officer and, later, chief ol the Division of Western European Affairs at the Department of State. In 1920. Robert and Mildred Bliss

CeanuthiLs record, h is afine piece of detailivork.

purchased property near Washington. D.C. and named the estate. Dumbarton Oaks. It was here that the conference was held which

I envy you the chance to have done it.

laid the foundation for the charter ol the

Isee /lent' I spait myseljto build up agarden jor a memorial to a man 1 did not k^oiv, and

United Nations in 1944. In 1922, Mildred

Ihanli you very much jnr sending this

u'hose descendants were pajcctly able to have

hired landscape designer Beatrix Farrand to work on Dumbartoii Oaks; the two struck

supplied the yiecessary labor. It uas u ivrong

up a deep friendship wiiich was to play an

estimate of values, on my part. I am realizing

important role in the story ol the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

ivith bitter truth the meaning ojBmerson’s son net on Hypocritic Days;'"Ihe Day,turned and departed, silait. All too late, under her solemn fdlet, Isaw the .sconi!’’^^

Mildred wrote a letter to the Museum of Natural History.Soon after my Alother’s death, it zoos made

During their years of service, the Bissells

clear to me that I was expected to supply the

were never paid lor their work and they were undoubtedly lamiliar with Anna Bliss’

Qarden’sfinancialnccds. Having no cognizjance whatever oj the matter, I learned as much as

lavish parties and considerable expenses at Casa Dorinda.

then commioiicatedwith my A[other's executor,

Tw'o months alter the Bissells resigned, they requested a modification ol their agree

possiblefrom a long talk'^Cth Dr. Bissell, and rcLiuesting him to reply to the letter I had received,

of the Garden; instead, the property arid its

and to make every easement he coidd under the H2 lerynsofherwill.

In this same letter she included recom

income could be used lor "any corporate

mendations on the future direction of the

purpose ol the Museum.”^' It is not clear why

Garden; her ideas were undoubtedly bolstered

they chose to make this change, although the disillusionment suggested by Mrs. Bissell’s

by her experiences establishing the gardens at Dumbarton(Xiks as well as her involvement

letter might provide some clues. The Bissells were both in their mid-seventies at this time.

ties were scientilic investigation, education.

ment to leave their property lor the sole use

with other cultural institutions. Her priori

NOTICIAS

24 recreational use. commercial dissemination of plants and information, exchange with

buildings be placed out oF the way of visi tor traffic. As a result of the Bliss donation,

other similar organizations including those

an engineering survey ot tlic Garden was

in other countries. landscape design and the

completed and a new administrative center

arts, and the keeping ot detailed records. She also enclosed a donation of $40,000 tor the

was created in the general area of the present Ctarden courtvard.

Garden's endowment tund.

The Administrative center and nursery

Two weeks later. Dr. Bisscll resigned from

group consisted of an office, designed by

the Museum Board. At the same meeting the

Lockwood de Forest, potting shed; lath

administration and finances of the Blaksley

house; greenhouse; workshop and seed

Botanic Garden were largely separated from

storage building; storage shed; and five-car

those of the Museum,although the Museum still retained title to the property and over

garage. The caretaker's cottage, constructed ol rounded tonaue-and-groove in 1926. was

sight of the endowment fund.

Maunscll Van Rensselaer became the

retained, and the original office building ol 1926 and a workhouse constructed in 1931

Garden's Director. A Garden Administrative

were moved to the site ol the new admin

Committee of the Board ot Trustees was

istrative center and combined to form the

formed, chaired by General William Lassiter

seed storage room and workshop. A 5.000gallon water storage tank and an electric soil

and comprised ot Museum trustees who were directly involved with the Blaksley Botanic Garden in its early years.

Van Rensselaer was imbued with an

sterilizer were also purchased and new plant labels created.

For the first time, the word 'standard'

abundance of youthful energy and enthusiasm and he raced into a wide range of o

entered the Garden's lexicon as more effort

activities during his first year as Director.

institutional pcrlormancc. Van Rensselaer

He gave frequent talks about native plants and the Garden in the communitv and at

developing "increasingly graceful and pleas

schools, and initiated the Garden’s first

ing proportions . . . it will also be necessary

evening classes. He completely reorganized the Ceanothus Section and created new bulb

to make a systematic search lor new plants

was made to evaluate and improve overall spoke of design in the Garden, and adesirc lor

those that compared members of the genus

which mav be used to good advantage." To create such a garden and maintain a "credible exhibitkni standard" was considered ot

Salvia {suge.) and Artemisia (sagebrush). He

paramount importance.

beds as well as taxonomic sections, such as

teamed up with California State Senator John

In 1936 with Van Rensselaer’s encourage

J. Hollister to submit a proposal lor the coast redwood to become the state tree, v>'hich was

of Trustees decided to restrict the plantings at

adopted. He became involved with the Santa

the Blaksley Botanic Garden to plants native

Barbara Parks district, eventually serving on the Board ol Commissioners,''^^

to California. During the early years, a large

Mildred Bliss provided a generous dona

ment, the Museum of Natural History Board

number ol exotic species had been planted to cover bare areas and tor aesthetic purposes.

tion ol $5,000 during Van Rensselaer's first

Many, but not all, of these were removed

year to build a new administrative center.

during a three-year period.

His old Iriend, Dr. Thomas Cioodspccd.

Yet despite all ol this productive activity and a recent $40,000 donation from Mildred

paid a visit to advise on composition and placement ot buildings; he suggested that the inlormation kiosk be constructed in a pri^minent position and administrative

Bliss, the Garden w'as operating a deficit budget at the end of 1936. Museum Board I^residcnc Max Flcischmann asserted chat

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

A neif injonnation l{iosl(j deaiirned lr\ I,od^a>od de I'oresi, J' r., was complctM in 19^7 as part of u larger building program. Santa Barbara I h.storical Society photograph.

the Garden would be continued only until

Palomar job without the assistance of the

the Garden's surplus funds were exhausted,

Blakslcy Garden,"''^' and she complied.

which was estimated at about three years.

Van Rensselaer developed a pattern of

This sparked an effort bv the Garden's sup-

confiding in Earrand over the next fourteen

pc-irters to secure funding, dil ficult to procure during the Depression. As the deficit contin

years, often sending her frequent gifts of publications, seeds, articles, and other items.

ued into 1937. the Museum offered to provide

Having her as a confidant was helpful to him

ff;2.500 in support for one year if Mildred Bliss would donate another $'1,.500. which

in two regards; she was extremely close to Mildred Bliss, and her husband. Max Earrand,

she agreed to do.

By 1938, Van Rensselaer had belriended

was Director of the Henry E. Huntington

noted landscape architect Beatrix Earrand,

Library and Art Ciallery in San Marino from 1927 to 1941. Some of the statements she

who had initially written him asking lor

prepared for the Garden had her husband's

help in identifying some specimens around

personal, handwritten additions and edits.

the "new observatory on Palomar Moun tain, Several letters lollowed, and by

In October 1938 Major Fleischmann stated that he "did not consider that Mu

summer they had met and exchanged infor mation about the Garden’s financial troubles.

seum funds should be used for the Garden."'^

Van Rensselaer appealed to Earrand to \\'ritc

Garden membership and fund-raising pro

a letter to General Lassiter stating that she would have been "reluctant to undertake the

grams. but E'leischniann did not approve. At

General Lassiter wanted to initiate separate

this point, the idea of complete separation

NOTICIAS

26 of the two institutions developed. Extensive

In December 1942, chc Santa Barbara

discussion by the Garden Administrative Committee centered on what the founder

Botanic Garden, Inc. received title to its

would have wanted.

along with all Garden endowment funds.

property from the Museum for one dollar,

Frederick Kcllam felt that Anna Bliss would have wanted the Museum to retain

Locf{wood de Forest and

governance over the Garden, following the

Beatrix Famind (^(^37-^950)

original terms of the trust. General Lassiter felt the Garden had increased in size and scope since its founding and needed to change with the times. Tlic idea of changing chc name to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was floated

by Van Rensselaer, who thought that it would influence donors since the name Santa Barbara

In early 1937 a committee comprised of Frederick Kcllam. Chain liis son-in-law. landscape architect Lockwood de Forest; Mrs. Oakleigh Tliornc; and Maunscll Van Rensselaer in an ex ofjicio capacity, began articulating landscaping principles to guide

was so well known "throughout the world.” It

the Garden in maintaining, improving, and

was also noted that "enterprises such as this

expanding its living exhibits.

De Forest was the son of artist Lockwood

Garden are ape to pass away with their (origi nators unless they prove sufflciencly worth

de Forest. He studied landscape architecture

while for succeeding people to take them

at Harvard University and chc University of

up... people ask why they should ccontributc

California. Berkeley. After openinghisoffice in 1920 he w'orked on a number of Santa Bar

CO the support of a family memorial.

In March 1939, with the blessing of Mil dred and Robert Bliss, chc Blakslcy Botanic Garden became incorporated as a separate

bara and Moncccito estate gardens including Wriahe Ludinscon's Val \'erde. George Steedman’s Casadel //cirero, and Arthur Meeker’s

non-proflt organization, chc Santa Barbara

Constantia. In December 1925 de Forest and

Botanic Garden, Inc., with its own by-laws and administration. General Lassiter became

his wile. Elizabeth Kcllam de Forest, started

chc first Board President, a positiion he held

a magazine,'Ihe Santa Barbara Qardener. on horciculrurc in Southern California, which the

until 1946. Dr. Bisscll was named Honorary

couple prtxliiccd until 1942. By chc time of

President.^ Although chc Garden’s endow

his untimely death at the age of lifty-thrcc in

ment funds were designated for chc sole use of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Inc., these

for his innovative and artistic designs.

1949. he had developed a national reputation

funds and ownership of Garden property

The landscape committee articulated

were retained by the Museum, which led to

several goals, often referred to as the Garden’s first Master Plan:

many subsequent meetings and complicated

♦ To provide an attractive, artistically

negotiations.

Van Rensselaer wrote Beatrix Farrand in

landscaped, and well maintained exhibi

June 1941:

tion garden of California native plants

ing interest in the Qarden,much nfzchich is due

for chc enjoyment of the people of Santa Barbara and visitors.

to thegnmndivorliyousocai-cjidly laid. She has undertaken to have the Qarden land transjened

● To carrv on exhaustive experimen tal investigation in die culture of native

We arc cdldclightcdivitliT-irs.Bliss’sgnnv-

Jnm thcM.useian to the Qardaicorporation and

plants and to demonstrate their adaptabil

to have the Qarden made the henejiciary ojthe

ity to cultivation, to the end chat nursery

Blaksley Trust Fund.'Ihisisaninvolvedmatter

men and gardeners may be supplied with

hut she says that it not only can be done, hut it must he done.'^'

adequate and accurate information about their propagation and care.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

27

♦ To prcwidc accurate information re lated CO the idcncilicacion. distribution and

opposite the "great boulder" would add to

thought chat a new' pedestrian entrance

classification of native planes, to further

the dignity of the Garden and enhance the

a desire on the part of the general public to know’ more about them, and to create

Garden's natural beauty.

a greater interest in their hcDrticultural use

inlormacion kiosk that was pare of the new'

De Forest submitted detailed plans for the

and in the preservation in the field.

building program of 1936-1937, to be placed

An eleven-page memorandum outlined

northw'cst of the great boulder. Construc

their plan lor ’’the general layout of the Ciarden as a guide to future planting. ’^- Di

tion was completed in 1937, and Antonio Da Ros installed the sconew'ork. This beautiful

viding the Garden into three pares, the memo

open-air structure was sited among the oaks

proviefed guidelines for each area.

For the Canyon, the emphasis w'as on naturalistic plantings and improving ac cess. Bridges w’cre pre^posed. along with a

beyond the boulder, creating a refreshing and natural ambience. It bears an intrigu ing resemblance to the Catalogue House at Dwnbanon Oakfi; Mildred Bliss had recom

For the main Garden area, inadequate park

mended just such a design for this purpose in a 1936 letter to the Board of the Museum of

ing W'as the number one issue. Suggestitms included construction ot a sandstone retain

door catalogue house be constructed, similar

ing wall along Mission Canvon Road so the

to the one at Dumbarton Oaks.”®^ A map

road could be widened lor additional parking

created from the new-’ survey was enlarged,

spaces. Further, the landscape committee

colored, and installed on a table under glass in the Information Center.

footbridge across the top of Mission Dam.

Natural History, suggesting that "an out-of-

The committee also advocated that the Bermuda grass in the Meadow’ 'T

be replaced with native ground-cov ers, w'ith borders of native California "material suitable for domestic garden use.’’ They also rcccDmmcnded that the pond at the upper end of the Meadow' be removed. For the hillside area, today’s site ot the Porter Trail and the Ccanothus Section, ongoing removal of olive trees and planting of native trees was the primary gcjal, along w'ith improved access.

In 1938, Beatrix Farrand joined the

V

ii

Landscape architect Locl{ivood de I'orest, Jr. first became involved u ith the Blal{sley Botanic Cjanlen in the Lite i gios. [lis impact on the hxihof the Qanlcn ivas immense and upon his untimely death in ic;yy he was lauded Jar the gifts oj "his vision and hnoivledge...to the Santa Bar bara Botanic Qarden.’’Santa Barbara / listorical Society photograph.

NOTICIAS

28 Garden Board, two years after Mildred Bliss had suggested her friend be so appennted.

Farrand had growai up in New York City in an artistic and reftned household. One of her maternal aunts w'as the novelist, Edith

Farrand was appoinccd to the Advisory Com mittee, and wrote Bliss in February 1939 with Garden new’S; While no promises or cveii dejinite sugges tions have been made, one or Livo of the Santa

Wiiarton. She opened her landscaping olhce

Barbara people seem to jeel that it is likely that

in 1895 and in 1899 was the only w'oman

Major rieischmann will be so pleased to get rid

among eleven prominent designers w^ho

of the Botanic Cjardenfnmi the Museum that he

founded the American Society ot Landscape Architects. Her commissions included a

will add to the endowment oj the Cjarden as a soti oj"alimony."Mr.\'an Rensselaersaid that

number of educational institutions including

thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Qould they had

Flarvard, Princeton, and Yale, as w'ell as many

been able tofinish theirfiscal yearof i ten cc?i£ credit balance!'^''

private estate gardens and parks. She is per haps best known lor the spectacular gardens at Dumbarton Oaks near Washington D.C.. w'hich she created for Mildred and Robert

with a

On March 12, 1939, Beatrix Farrand and Lockwood dc Forest made the following sug gestions regarding Garden landscaping:

Bliss over a twcnty-hvc-ycar period. In 1913 she married Yale historian. Max Farrand. and

temporarily ivith anmuil and perainial ivild-

the couple moved to California in 1927, where

floivers.Shoidd this experiment prove successfid

Max served as director of the Huntington Librarv in San Marino.

feature;otherivise the area coidd hepLinted ivith

liliminate Bennudagrass meadmv.lyeplace

... if might be desirable to make it ci painanent

In one of the first meetings betw'cen Far

native strawberries.If the present parking space

rand and dc Forest in early 1937, they con

is eliminated and the neiv entrance developed,the ivildflowerarea should be extended to the south

ferred at CasaDorinda about fertilizing oaktrees and made small talk about design at the Botanic Garden. Farrand then received a letter from General Lassiter telling her of de Forest’s appointment as the official landscape advisor for the Garden. Farrand w'rotc Mrs. Bliss, "Mr.de Forest has gotxl sense, real love of California local plant material, and w'ill I think be honestly interested in the Garden and its future. The whole situation has been a puzzling one. As things arc. it docs not seem as though I could be professionally connected with the Garden as advisor in any sort ●94

of way."

Bv late December 1938, however.

Ihe Cjarden abo greatly benefited from the talents oj nationally-renoivned landscape architect Beatrix I'anxmd. Shexviis deeply involved in Cjarden design from 1958 to u)‘)0. Santa Barbara I listorical Society photograph.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

29

increasing the length of the nort/z and south axis

nia poppy was again sown in lace 1946, and

u'hich ivould tend to accentuate the vieiv ofLa % Cumbre Peak in the hach^round.

beach strawberry was again planted in the

The first suggestion reflected the commit' tec’s recent desire to transform the Meadow to native plantings, using wildflowers and/or strawberries. Further, the idea of reshaping the meadow into an oval was introduced, along with elimination of the parking space at the lower end ot the Meadow. Then a

fall. Again the strawberry meadow grew well for a lew years and then became infested with weeds, a process chat would be repeated for years until the strawberry meadow plantings were abandoned in 1962.

A beautiful scone bench was placed under the Meadow Oaks in 1941 to honor the Bissells. Designed by de Forest and placed in the

new entrance could be designed with wide

cool shade ol the oaks adjacent to the canyon

stone steps and a path leading to the new Information Center.

wall, an inscription reads;

The grass was removed in the fall of 1939. A glorious held ol California poppies {Lschscholzia calijomjica). lupine {Lupinus succulentus), and ocher annuals appeared in the spring of 1940, drawing visitors from miles away. In November 1940. staff again plowed the Meadow and planted it with beach

"A green tiumght in a green shade" in memory of ElmerJef’crson Bissell and F.rvanna his wife who laid out this path in 1934 This area remained essentiallv unchanged during this peritxl from the original design by Frvanna Bowen Bissell.

In 1940 the Garden purchased twelve

strawberry {Fragaria chiioensis) as an experi-

acres ol Mission lands owned by the Fran

menc. Wildtlovx'cr seeds were planted between

ciscan padres with donations provided by Mrs. Frederic S. Gould; Mrs. Ina Theresc

the strawberry plants to give spring color.

By 1945, the strawberry meadow was drawing crowds ol over 1,100 people in one day. Mrs. Farrand crowed to Mrs. Bliss; Lhc beauty ojthe Qardai u-as ravishing.Just

Campbell, a friend ol Anna Bliss; and the Santa Barbara Foundation. This narrow scrip extended from the southern boundary of the Garden up the creek, encompassing the

aunighivhitestmxvbcrry blossomsin the bigcentixd.

Mission Dam and adjacent aqueduct. This

laun togive brillianccivitlujut beingspectacuLiror

added property solved a number of problems

oi'a'-idressed. Ihai afill annmd the edge ofgolden

the Landscape Committee had been ponder

coreopsis and orange poppies, and behind this

ing regarding access to the canyon. Once

picture the big oaks in bud ivith theirnav leaves of

the Mission lands became Garden property, Lockwood de Forest became involved with

tendergiven,and thegiviU numntain ivith its guy

99

pinesjinishing tlle picture.

Although the strawberry meadow was

trail planning and design.

The Mission Dam dated from 1807 and

a spectacular success initially, it became

was part of a system chat included another

badly infested with weedy Oxalis, and the

dam in Rattlesnake Canyon, reservoirs, a

Landscape Committee decided to remove

hirer house, grist mill, fountain, lavadero,

it in the lall of 1945. Sea-dahlia {Coreopsis

and a series of aqueducts. The system was

maritima) was planted. The mass planting was dramatic; however, "several critical

constructed by Chumash labor under the direction of the Franciscan padres. The Mis

observers, studying the meadow as a part of

sion Water Companv purchased the water

the general Garden design, concluded chat the

system in 1872 and it remained in use until

plants were coo call for a large open area of

about 1915. In recent years the Garden has undertaken an extensive resct^racion ol the

this kind . . . The main advantage of such a '9K

planting is the long flowering period.

A wildflower mix dominated bv Califor¬

dam and aqueducts with detailed explanatory panels on how the system worked.

NOTICIAS

30

Tlic ground surrounding benches along the

Campbell 'Irail and Bridge: Funding ior construction of the Campbell Trail was provided

trail was worked to provide planting spots for

by Mrs. Ina Tlicrcsc Campbell, in memory of

attractive ferns and ocher woodland planes;

her husband. John Campbell. Tliis new trail

hundreds ol planes were moved from "nearby

would link the oak woodland property on the west side of Mission Creek with the central

direction.

part of the Garden for the first time. Tlie trail design included a broad fa)cpath leading from the Information Center dov\ri the cast side of

slopes and canons” and planted under de Forest’s Noted planes woman Lescer Rown-

tree also made suggestions for plancings.

Bchind the scenes, Beatrix Farrand be

Mission Canyon, traversing a boulder-covered

came intrigued by the design c^f this trail and sene letters to Eva Pritchett and Van Rens

slope to the fltx)r of the canyon. Steps made of

selaer with suggestions on plantings, stone

railroad ties led toa hfty-foot, rustic bridge that

bridge design, and even the placement of the

crossed Mission Creek. Tlic trail and bridge were

bench. She also wrote Mildred Bliss, seeking

completed in 1941,and in 1942 a beautiful stone

her influence in convincing the Board to pro

bench overkx:)king the creek was designed by

vide funding for upkeep of the new trails.

Lockwood dc Forest. Tlie railroad tics leading to the bridge were replaced with a broad curved

It luiplxrvi that thi^immiing with yourlcUa'oJ thcrccamcaktta'JwmAlr. VanRptsseLiLr

ftxKpath in 1946.

Pritchett 'Bail and Bench: A second trail

seems that Qeneml Lassiter ivilh the spint oj the

rdtha' taiking himself(nil as to his dijjicultics. It

was funded in 1940 to provide access to the

tnie purneer and ivootisman is very much inta--

ncw'ly acquired w'oodcd slopes west of Mission

ested in opening up and constnictmg(me trail aftei'

Creek. Mrs. Henry S.(Eva)Pricchctc provided the donation to honor her lace husband, Dr.

add enonnously to the interest and accessibility oj

Henry Smith Pricchctc, former President of

the Canymi,Init he said the iccn-hgoes o)i ivithoul

the Carnegie Corporation, whose favorite

the slightest provisionJor the upkeep ojthese paths,

w'alk had been at the Garden; she stipulated

zvhich addszcorktoan abvady(jvo'-burdoied stajj.

anotha',zvhich as Air. \'an Rpisselaer says does

that Lockwood dc Forest design the trail and

I le is evidently ccmceined Ixcause themakingofthe

bench, as well as oversee its ongoing planting

trails and theirupkeep luive so taltpi tlte time ojhis

and maintenance, and reiterated that stipula

men tlu.it severalplantsing(xxlcollections luivedied

100

tion more than once as years passed.

Work commenced in 1940. and de Forest

jnmi neglect.

incorporated the layout of this trail into part

ask about the trails innocently and ask ij diere

At some meeting it might come yourzvay to

of a class project for a Garden Design ctuirse

zvere any endozvment or upkeep funds set aside

he W'as teaching at Santa Barbara State Col

for them and hozv this zvork ajjected the general

lege. He and his students recommended that

upkeep zvork oj the Cjarden. Ihe less I tell you

the trail be placed "on the west bank where the natural growth is more beautiful and the

about the zvhole situation the more ejjcctive your innocence will

contour more interesting . . . This is one of the most beautiful view's in the entire Garden

active interest in the Pritchett Trail’s develop

Unlike most donors, Eva Pricchctc cook an

and gives a comprehensive picture of the

ment and design, sometimes hiring her own

original Mission Canyon flora to which this "101 The original particular area is devoted, O

men to do maintenance and planting. After

construction of the Pritchett Trail and bench

dc Forest died, she requested chat Elizabeth

was completed by the summer of 1941. At

dc Forest carry on her late husband’s work on the trail, and the two women worked

the same time, he suggested a loop that com menced at the dam and ended just north of

together on various improvements.She main tained a hands-on interest in the trail until her

102

the Campbell Bridge.

death in 1957 Farrand provided funding for

Blaksley Botaivic Garderv 1931 /

c

J \

I Missioi\ Cai\yoi\ Q

%

Cai\yoi\ Sectiorv

AldefGrbve

Live Oak

<o o

Gibve

BooL.h.!f‘A^'IUsiOIN yTralls Tthil

CKapaithl Sectiorv

JDesefl Sectiorv

G

Ii\dlai\ Tdii]

bDaov

% IndlaivTrhl

ParVirvg Alia

Meadow Sectiorv HillTrtil].

A

\

Aitbyo Sectio Meadow TfSr

Island TiUl

Is]

●ecLiorv

TfUXfb^

Car Pori WorkiKop Tool Storage Resirootns LalK Hosjse Polling SKed Greenhouse Can Y a rd Caretaker’s Collage

NoflK Hillside Sectiorv

Misloru Moi lo scale Appro*lr\alely 17 Acres

Carvyorv Sectiorv

●ak Gibve

Tree SecLioix

£f[^yRoad

SoMtK Hillside Sectiorv

fiOt

: M a ry C a fYo 11 Map lllvsiralor: Jeffrey Yardy

1

EBsUm-AoMedMCL Trtil

JL

(tvdl«fs Si*p*

OMLKet"i\ Oak Woodlarvd

SecLio:

Bm ild i i\g Legend A. E. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J.

AdnlivlitfaLlo Garden Grbvefi Nxirkery Lath Horjaet [nrofmatlort Kloik Rettrooma Vuilor Servlcei Garderv Shop AiYoyo Room B>j»ltveti Ornce Blaktley Library

K. L. M. N, O. P. Q,

Hefbari Jape r\(S( Tea llouie 6 Garde Gan a HoMic Shade StfMct'jfet Lath Houaet Storage Shedi BMlIding Pfopagatio

liol to Seale Approximately 78 Acres

historian: Nary Carroll Mop Ilivstrator: Jeffrey Yardy

^●odlarvd Ti*ali

SANTA BARI^ARA BOTANIC GARDEN

31

the inscallacion ol a natural bird bach along

administrative functions and a classroom,

the trail in Eva Pritchett’s memory.

along with the library and herbarium, with

Thc expansions and new plantings that took place at the Garden in the late 1930s and

allowances for future growth. Pros and cons

early 1940s wc^uld never have been possible without the assistance of the National Youth

center" of the Garden v^’ere weighed, and

Association, which provided over 4,900 hours of volunteer labor in 1939 alone.liM

of placing the building in the "geographic finally the site near the old garage, south of the Desert Section, was chosen. The Garden hired a prominent local architect. Lutah Ma

In 1941, with war raging in Europe and

ria Riggs, CO design the building, and once

Asia,one might have expected quiet times at the newly lormcd Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

preliminary plans were prepared. Bliss qui etly sent them off to Farrand in Bar Harbor,

To the contrary, several pivotal events cook

Maine, admonishing her to "cast your most

place chat year. Mildred Barnes Bliss was elected to the Board of Trustees. With her election came

penetrating eye upon these plans.

many discussions about the management of the

spaced pages in length and addressed ev

Garden, the desirability of purchasing adjacent land to prt)cect the ambience of the Garden from

erything Irom the position of the building

■lOR

Farrand's prompt reply was five single

encroaching development, and ftnancial scabil-

CO parking issues, staircases, plumbing, and exterior finishes. She did not like the idea of

icy, Tliac same year Mr.and Mrs. Hugh Dcaring dotiatcd their working herbarium, a collection of

the Trustees did not need parking spots next

dried plane specimens with detailed accompany ing information, to the Giardcn. Tiicir herbarium encompassed over 5,000 specimens representing

glass bricks framing the doors and felt chat to the building, away from the general park ing to be installed adjacent to the County Road. Further, she asserted that the new

106

3,500 California native plant species.

structure, because It would be so large, should

Following this generous donation, Ciarden Director Van Rensselaer seated he would like to

be harmonious with the landscape:

"have a library which would include all available

ld}gc as theJuLure Administration Building has

publi.shed literature on California plants as well ’107 as a fine library on ornamental horticulture.’

In the months chat followed, a laroc reference

got to be considered as a building,since it can't

library belonging to naturalise and author Charles Francis Saunders was presented to the

y^^)’ own Jecling also is that a building as

be hidden libc a small shacl{, therefore its apiKUrance as cJ building has to be consideredfrom a different angle than fit ivere a small cabinIfe stnicture ivhich could be dissimulated or

Garden by his widtiv.', Mira Saunders,comprised

hidden. 'Ihe Cjarden has passed from its first

of several hundred btx^ks, includinga complete

experimental and S(nneivhat haphazard stage, into an imponant unit U’hich shoidd he treated

sec of his published works, correspondence and research notes for all his publications, journals, pamphlets, photographs, an autograph collec tion, several Native American jars, and a col

1(19

icith dignity of design.

She also sent a copy of this letter to Van Rensselaer and uxotc another to the Garden

lection of wacercok)rs ol desert flowers, painted by his first wife.

When Mrs. Bliss learned of the acquisi

site for it must be in a key position. Also that

tion of the Saunders Library and the Dear-

it should be so placed that further expansion be

ing Herbarium, she generously offered to build a fireproof structure to house these and additional collections. Bv November 1941

possible. It should be part of the workinggroup, accessible to those engaged in the research work of the Garden,and yet.somewhat removed from

plans had evolved 1 rom a small structure to a

the interruptions c)f casual vlsitors.

sizable permanent building that would house

Trustees. "As the library is the heart of any educational institution, it is obvious that the

'110

By December, I'arrand was in Santa Bar-

NOTICIAS

32 bara and her"penetrating eye” also picked up on

thefamily rcamiJwm the title ojthe Qarden,so

some discrepancies in the elevations. She uTotc

the 'h-ustecs ivould like to

Van Rensselaer,"As it appears that the map at the Garden is incorrect. 1 have the donor's[Mil

name as a /w?'f oj your lilnwy gift

your mother’s 112

Tlic plaque reads:

dred Bliss] permission to tell Miss Riggs that a THE BLAKSLEY LIBRARY

simple topo may be made showing accurately certain levels which we must have before the ■ni Tliis advice w'as buildings can be placed,

FOUNDER OF THE GARDEN

fortunate, as the position oi the Blakslcy Boulder

ANNA DORINDA BLAKSLEY BLISS

was ten feet out of alignment, as were nearby

BY HER DAUGHTER

trees and the edge of the canyon wall. Mrs.

1942

GIVEN IN MEMORY OF THE

Farrand snxxl at the site and mapped a visual axis Irom the Library to the Blakslcy Boulder to

Plans lor the Garden courtyard were in

La Cumbre Peak, envisioning the line of sight a

Ilux for about a year or so after the comple

person would experience while standing on the

tion of the building. Mrs. Farrand lelt strong

future library steps.

Construction of the new library entailed

ly that rigid lines were needed to finish oft the enclosure and give it cohesion, mirroring the

moving buildings Irom the tormcr Admin istrative Center to new locations, and again

lines of the buildings and, after much discus sion of w'alls and fences, settled on a hedge

buildings were reused. Tlic Director's office

ot lemt)nade berry {l\hus integnfolia). three

was placed behind the new Library at an angle that allowed view’s to the south through the

climbers to be planted by the stone chimney

Library windows. Once again, the caretaker’s

be placed next to w'alls. The building w-as

cottage was moved, this time south of the

judged fi rst in the civic and commercial class

olhcc building, wdicrc it remains to this day.

Tlic lath house was reconstructed in its current

of architecture by the Santa Barbara Plans

location west of the Garden courtyard, com

The award cited the building as being "in

and on nearby railings, and large shrubs to

and Planting Committee in March 1950.

plete with pre-existing moat to deter ants and

good taste, simple and unpretentious, emi

sow bugs from entry. The original greenhouse was located south of the lath house in 1946,

nently suitable,’’"'^ In recent years, several ol

and the glass panes W''erc eventually removed

as "major monuments of twentieth-century American architecture," and architectural

and replaced with shade cloth.

Lutah Riggs' designs have been singled out

Before and during construction. Farrand

historian Alexandra Cole called the library

held many meetings with Riggs, and they

building exceptional because Riggs designed 114 so lew non-residential buildings.

Lockw’ood dc Forest, who had become a

seemed t(.) get along very well. The final building plans from the office of the architect listed Beatrix Farrand as consultant. The

member ol the Board ol Trustees in March

building was completed in spring 1942.

The Trustees requested permission to

1942. had served in World War I and again volunteered lor service in World War II.

place a plaque in the Library that honored Mildred Bliss and her mother. Mrs. Farrand

In September 1942, he was assigned to the

wTOte Mrs. Bliss to request her permission

gineers Corps. He continued to be involved with the Garden during this period, but was

for this tribute, stating,

Camouflage Section ot the U. S. Army En

IJelt that your acceptance ojthe elimination

not available lor day-to-day consultation, so

ojyourmother's name in the title ojthe Qarden

Farrand assumed more responsibilities during

ivas taken as ivisely and impersonally as al-

this period. She met with surveyor Wallace

ivays. It cannot have been easy...to have erased

Penficld about options lor expanding parking

SANTA I^ARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

33

at the Garden, and they settled on the idea

the center oj the library. . . . It happens that

of placing a parking lot below the level of

the exact right a^igle taken through the center

Mission Canyon Road but above the high est footpath in order to keep vehicles out ol

ojthe bmdder comes out at a most opportune

sight Irom the Garden. Ac the same time,

spot on the high road, and one likely to make a 7nost attractive main entrance. 'Ihis is a

access from the parking area to the main part ol the Garden was considered. Farrand

piece oj good luck which none oj us could 11,' havejo7-eseen.

sec her sights on an entry chat focused on the 131aksley Bouldcr.

A part oj the i^urvey ivill he a main north and south "base line,’’which ivill run through

By 1943, both Farrand and dc Forest enjoyed outstanding reputations as landscape designers, Farrand, who was seventy-one at the time, was more renowned nationallv due

7/jc C/tinienpurchased twelve acresj'wm the Saiita Barbara Missum in 2940, which included the dam in A iLssim Canyon and jx)rtions ojihe aqueductsystan.

1he dam had been completed in 180jtry Chumash laborers under the supervision ojthe lixmciscan padres. Santa Barbara I listorical Society photograph.

NOTICIAS

34 to her work at Dumbaiton Oak^ and many ocher private estates, as well as on many college campuses, but was not well known in Santa Barbara, The forcy-sevcn-year-old

CO be accepted as they arc!”"^ De Forest, however, did not like the de sign nor did he v^’ant to change the intimacy of the narrow, meandering paths around the

de Forest had gained prominence in Santa

Meadow, He also felt strongly chat parking

Barbara, and although his work was known on a national level, he was not as well known

should be contined to Mission Canyon Road,

outside ol California as Farrand. Both used

as much as possible with climbing planes. In his letter to the Board he wrote:

a combination of lormai and intormal styles

and chat the new Library should be covered

in their residential garden designs, with more

Myfirst impulse is to say bum it up and let’s

formal hardscape elements and hedges near

consider this area when I get hdckafter the war

buildings, gradually dissolving to curves and

. .. I consider any f>mial axis such as shoivs

cascades ol plant material on the outer edges

from the entrance gate ojthe Libmi-y Area to the

of the plantings.

Farrand came from an eastern tradition,

Large Boiddcr completely out ojplace— I do not like the axis to the big boidderjwm

and saw the landscape as an extension of

the parking area. I again consider an axis out

buildings, with lines and axes enhancing their architecture. De Forest, who had spent most of his life in California, had embraced nacu-

ofplace in our Botanicgarden,ichich shoidd be injonnal. I consider an axis ending in a large

raliscic design, eschewing the straight line

rangement leading the eye to the injonnation

in favor of narrow meandering paths using natural materials which created an intimate

center to the north ojthe big hoidder. Any visitor

feel. Although these two approaches can be compatible, since Farrand was (jn site at the Garden and de Forest was away at war, trouble ensued.

On March 11, 1943. Farrand submit

boulder unj'ortunate. Suggest an injonnal ar

to the garden shoidd he directed to the Injonna tion Center(irst, and any entrance that makes the visitor huntfor the center does notjunction.

I do not consider the ivide road around the east side of the meadow desirable. It certainly cuts dmvn on the intimate character of the paths

ted a sketch plan of a main entrance to the

in this area,tvhich at the present time contains

Board; this design was approved in principle

many plants ojinterest— 'Ihe nav entrance wad to my mind hugs the

at the meeting. Her plan showed a straight path emerging from the new parking lot at

Ifyck much too closely . . . 'Ihis hoidder is one

a right angle, centered directly on the Blak-

oj thejinest naturaljeatures oj the garden and

sley Boulder. The design featured several tiers of a few sandstone steps, separated by Hat terrace "runs," that were connected tc^

slunddbejeaturcd.Ijthenew lo’roadaroundthe

the large sandstone boulder by a short Hat

meadow is designed tojacilitate the Ccirc oj the ganlen (its only excusejthai the neiv wad design near the entrance is inexcusable...

path; at the boulder this path intersected the

I did notcomplain ovemiuchzvhen the huihl-

main trail linking the Library with the upper Meadow.

ings were rearmnged tojorm theformal court in

Farrand sent her plans and a letter to de

front of the Library because 1

told that the

jonnality would end at the gate... I do feel that

Forest. She was encouraged by Frederick

any continiuince ojthisjonnality into the rest of

Kellam that his son-in-law would respond

the area is definitely bad and I ivanl to register

favorably."Although he w'as not so sure that Mr. dc Forest liked the somewhat regular

my disapproval.

arrangement of the buildings on their pres ent site. However, as Mr, Kcllam says, the buildings are placed, and therefore will have

Ifeel a little like the private ivho had discov ered someone ivanted to put an anny camp on Ml'iamalpais. He wrote[that] if it ivas .spoilt 117 he didn't see ivhat he wasfightingjor.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN His letter CO Farrand was more concilia

35 ot the original ideas from the 1937 master

tory while making the same point—that the

planning document, with specific sugges

axis has no place in nature and that natural

tions for path width, parking, and plantings.

Some ot the significant recommendations included:

vistas had more appeal to tlie public chan a lormal axis. Furthermore, Ihcjonnai scUing ofthe nciv Library build ing is far too imgnrlantfor suck an inconse quential bit oj architecture.... I .shoidd life to see as much ojthe building covered by planting as possible. After all, the garden is a botanic gardenjornaliveplantsandnot an architectural

● Path widths of ten feet were rec ommended for vehicle access, and also CO allow students to w’alk two or three abreast. ● The main pedestrian approach from the parking area into the Garden "should

e.xhibition. I believe the point oj mterest could be

be constructed by steps and ramps aimed

brought doicn to the ground by some interesting

directly at the boulder lying to the north

paving de.sign in jnmt oj the steps to the main door of the ivindoiv.

Please do not misunderstand me. I have not

of the library."

thnnvnjonnal design overboard. I like it and use it nmch of the tune.’

meadow up cc^ward the hills. It is thought

Farrand's reply to de Forest's letter was

tive and added distance to this part of the Meadow."

Iricndly and primarily addressed the relation ship between architecture and plantings.-

● "A colony of gray foliage plants is suggested to run northeast from the chat this gray planting will give perspec

● "The absentee colleague agreed chat

By this time ymi have undoiditedly sec7i the

the colleague on tlie ground should write

plan,and ichile there may be things uith which

the report and later send him a copy so

you disagree, I think that ij me were together

that he may see all his ideas arc correctly

on the ground yoxi icould see that on the whole It seems to fit the conditions and the contours

expressed.

Both dc Fc^rcst and Farrand seemed to

surprisingly ivell. It is difjicult to draiv the line

concur on their recommendations alter sev

betiveen the natural phenomena and the sort

eral face-to-face mcctinas.

oj construction which human beings require

\?.2

Yet behind the scenes the relationship con

for convenient use. Certainly a house is not a

tinued to present challenges to both parties.

natural object, and one wonders just ivhere the

De Forest undoubtedly felt strongly about his

dividing line is. It seems long to put ojjour(gar

convictions regarding the importance of infor

den disciLssion until aj'ter the tear, but perhaps this is inevitable.119

difficult meetings, frustration with delays,

mality at the Garden, and Farrand described

Farrand was invited by Board President Lassiter to become a member ot the Plannins

and tensions among the Board members in

Committee in Ncwembcr 1943, which she

What a quarrelsome little group they .seem to be in Santa Barbara. 1 don’t think I <-’fer

her confidential musings to Mrs. Bliss.

A accepted with the "greatest pleasure, month later, de Forest returned to Santa Bar

zucis in a community in zvhich there is so much

bara while on leave, and Farrand wrote Bliss

backbiting!

about de Forest’s ongoing "quite vigorous" 121 expressions ol disapproval of her ideas.

Santa Barbara .seems necessary to umscramble

’●12(1

During a scries of meetings that Decem ber, the 1937 landscaping guidelines were revisited. Notes dated December 22, 1943

Itbuseemy dear whether. . . yourjowiiey to these various eggs.

123

We do not have dc Forest’s perspective

were signed by both de Forest and Farrand.

on his working relationship with Farrand; historian Diane McGuire'^'’ refers to Farrand's

They and the Board again endorsed manv

"intransigence" as a contributing factor in

NOTICIAS

36 the tensions that arose between the two

casual and liad no patience for "lancy plans

landscape professionals.

and pretensions."'-'He had a small oHicc and liked to do sketches on site, often unsigned.

Perhaps diftcrcnces in personalities and work habits were the source ol some ot

He rarely wore ties. He designed lamps tor his

the tensions. Farrand conducted business

home made o( old car parts, topped by lamp

in a conventional, clhcicnt manner, often replying to corrcspixidencc within a day

shades constructed from nautical maps of the offshore islands.'* Although from a wealthy

or so of receipt, writing detailed comments

family himself, he spent his formative years

documenting her ideas, and typing up meet

in the carclrce atmosphere of Southern Cali

ing notes {with her own handwriting visible in edits and additions). She tended to make decisions and stick with them. As wile of the

fornia. where many experimental approaches

Director of the Fluntington Library with a

demand for his outstanding work, as well

bi-coastal lifestyle, she moved in circles that

as his editorials and writings in 7/ie SunLd

emphasized formality. At the same time, she

Barbara Qardaw.

to art and life styles have originated. He was much beloved in the community, and was in

was very effusive in her expressions, and it is

There is no question that both were

easy to recognize a deicumcnt she has written,

enormously talented and created designs of

even unsigned, with practice. She often flat tered de Forest, with comments such as the

exceptional beauty; both exhibited a line

"talented junior adviser." which may have

for creating tableaus that led the eye to the distant view; and both seemed comfort

annoyed him.

De Forest, on the other hand, was more

attention to detail along with a propensity

able being direct in their communications.

Ike Campbell A Icmorial'Irailu'itk itsJifty-Joot bridge orejv\ lission Creeku-as completed in u)^L.'Ihe trail linked thcivest side ojMission Canyxm icith the centralponion ojthe Qarden.

Santa Barbara I listorical Society photograph.

■Pi A.

\ : > T <●

.

\ ●

r

* 7

fzs»\-

/

0* A

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

37

Afccr the March 1943 inccrchangc, the

1952, first published by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

cwo seemed to go out of their way to sign meeting notes jointly and to present a united Iront to the Board.

The war vears brought limitations in

On January 14. 1944. the 1943 sketch

supplies, staffing, and funding to the Garden, and internal documents reler to "war-time

plan was submitted to the Board, along with accompanying memoranda that documented

neglect" of sections ol the garden such as the Ceanothus Section. In addition, a severe

decisions submitted to the Planning Commit

drought occurred that lasted for several years.

tee.’^ The Board approved these documents as the official Master Plan of the Garden. In

Rainfall was below normal beginning in the rainfall season 1942-43. In 1947 there was

August, Mrs. Bliss presented the Garden with securities worth $200,000 to be added to the

in Santa Barbara); the open range lands were

endowment and used for special needs During March of that year. Farrand took

only 4.64 inches of rain at the Garden (3.99 still brown in early February 1948. Permis sion had to be obtained from the Water

up de Forest’s request tor investigating types

Emergency Committee for fifty gallons a

of paving and wrote up a memo describing experimental paving materials and locations

day to keep Garden nursery stock alive.

Many trees died in the Ctarden and had to

in the Garden that might be useful. She drove around Montecito with Peter Riedel

tion of the Mission Canyon Association in

and Maunsell Van Rensselaer to inspect the use of different materials in.situ. Not much

Improvement Association with the primary

progress was made during this period, as she

purpose of securing adequate fire protection.

was nursing her ailing husband, who died in 1945 and de Forest was still aw’ay.

An exacerbation of stress on the plantings oc

During the war years the Garden partici pated in a number of special emergency proj

be removed. The drought led to the forma 1948, which replaced the Mission Canyon

Meetings were held in the Blakslcy Library. curred during the late 1940s with excessively cold temperatures recorded I or two successive

ects, including horticultural rc.scarch on gua-

winters, 1947-49. culminating in two inches

yule, a possible source of rubber, and plants

of snowfall on January 12, 1949.

Farrand was elected to the Board in

useful for camouflage, as well as propagation of over one thousand cork oak seedlings to ensure the nation’s cork supply.

September 1944. but was largely absent due to her husband’s health. A letter from Bliss

Van Rensselaer wrote 'Irces of Santa

referred to Mrs. Farrand as being "weary and

Barbara, published jointly by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the Citv of

unwell lately.” In September 1946 Farrand was invited to be Chief Consultant to the

Santa Barbara Board of Park Commissioners

Botanic Garden and an ex-officio member

in 1940, followed by the book Ceanothus in 1942, which he co-authored with Dr. Howard

of all committees. Sellar Bullard had become

McMinn of Mills College. Ceanothus linked

saw eye to eye on many matters—chief

taxonomic treatments of Ceanothus spe

among them, the creation of a written plan for the parking area and entrance, and to

cies in California with a separate section on horticultural uses; it won the Bulkley Gold Medal from the Garden Club of America in

Board President, and he and Farrand cicarlv

document the changes that might be nec

1943. and Van Rensselaer went east to receive

essary to implement the improvements, Farrand wrote glowinglv of committee and

the award on behalf of the Garden. A vouno

Board mectinss to Bliss.

botanist, Clilton Smith, began a survev of Mission Canyon in 1943 that culminated in

additional parking during this period. The

publication ot his Flora ofSanta Barbara in

strawberry and wildflower plantings in the

The Garden felt keenly the need for

NOTICIAS

38 Meadow were drawing huge crowds and the

eulogized for his many concributions to rhe

"mob of cars is strung out for over a quarter She ordered a of a mile on the highway,

Garden’s "basic landscape plan." the Pritch ett Trail, three benches, the Kiosk, and the new entrance,I.M as well as his "bright spirit.

new survey and wrote a tour-page report for the Board that detailed her design ideas

great enthusiasm and sound advice which he

for parking, foot paths, vehicle access, and

always gave without stint. . . . What he has

realignment of the Meadow, the entrance,

given of his vision and knowledge to Santa

and future placement of buildings. In pre

Barbara County and especially to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden v\’ill long live to

senting her report, she made an appeal tor a permanent and controlling plan for the central part of the Garden, supplemented by maps showing boundaries and contours with exact placement of the buildings and paths.

An important feature of her reports, including this one. was considcratiiMi of the future- in terms of additional parking, buildings, and plantings. Many of her ideas continue to resonate to this day.

In 1948 Farrand, de Forest, Bullard, and Van Rensselaer finally agreed on the place ment and dimensions of the parking area and entrance steps, and articulated their nineteen points agreed upon at conference. The design details for the sandstone entrance steps reflect the recommendations of both landscape pro fessionals. Su22estions regarding; informal arrangements of intersecting paths and ir regularly shaped planting areas expressed dc Forest's design approach. The mix of practi cal considerations and unity of composition reflect Farrand's desire to integrate beauty and utility.

Both de Forest and Farrand were

concerned with proportion, scale, composi

grow and remain a fitting memorial to him and his work."132

tion, and the distant view. The entrance steps

The new parking area was completed in

have been accributed by some to Farrand and others t(5 de Forest, but thev are the reflection

1950. and Farrand donated the landscaping

of a true collaboration.l.W The entrance steps and parking lot were completed in 1950, with funding by Mrs. Sel lar Bullard as a memorial to her mother, Mrs. Albert Paul Smith. The 1948 Annual Report credited bt)th Farrand and dc Forest with the design, "The approach was designed by Mrs. Farrand and Mr.dc Forest as a prominent fea ture of the Meadow Section of the Garden."

of the area around the parking lot and steps.

Although she resigned frcun active partici pation at the Garden in January 1950 at the age of seventy-eight for health reasons,

a

memorandum from April 19,50 detailed fur ther suggestions, including the additions of seasonal wildflower plantings, overhanging plants along the steps to soften the edges, and additions of miue rocks to the area.

After her resignation, the Board reflected on

Dc Forest died unexpectedly on March

her contributions, her "time, effort, scientific

31, 1949 at the age of fifty-three and was

advice, arid monetary help have been of

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

39

inestimable value. The master plan which

sociates. including Dr. Cornelius H. Muller,

she prepared has been adopted and will be a

world-renowned plant ecologist; Dr. James

constant reminder of her guiding support and 1.^4 great interest in the Garden.

Walters, an outstanding geneticist; and the

Maunsell Van Rensselaer’s growing inter est in research, publications, and education led to the use of Garden facilities by faculty

vertebrate biedogist Dr, Mary Erickson. Oth ers, such as Dr. Garrett Hardin, were expected to join them. Several students who served as Bt)tanic Garden research assistants later

and students ol the newly formed campus of the University of California, due to shared

became distinsuished scientists. Amona them

interests and need for more research space

oaks, and Dr. Reid Moran, long-time student

by scholars at the cramped Riviera campus.

Several faculty became Garden Research As¬

of Dudkya and the flora of Baja California.

were Dr.John Tucker, an expert on California

By 1948, a cooperative agreement be tween the Garden

L/:/'7 ,● 7/us Jiusric bookcase sa-ved as the Qarden library until u) 38. and the University BliLOWdmg^ztheBlaksUy Library opened, anothermilestonein the Qarden’s with shared re.scarch ^imvth and development. objectives was pro posed. and discussion of a new publication, to be called Uranan' tia and to be pub

;::-r ●''

lished by the Garden, was initiated. This scientiftc journal would emphasize re search on plants ol the Southwest, and Cornelius H. Muller would serve as edi tor. Although funds were set aside for its prtxluction, the proj ect was abandoned in 1949.

Muller’s wife. Dr. - Katherine Muller,'-^' - joined the Garden y staff in 1948 as As- sodate in Education, setting immediate - goals for expansion , of educational offer ings to include eve- ning classes. lectures, ~ exhibits, and prop grams for teachers.

I Within a month, she ; had proposed a new

NOTICIAS

40 Nature Trail along Mission Creek, and was

am(.)ng Trustees. Bullard also submitted his

soon promoted to Directi^r of the Institute for

resignation. In the weeks that followed, the Board decided to accept Van Rensselaer’s

Nature Study, a program initiated by Mrs. J. F. Manning that now was sponsored by the University of California, the Museum of Natural History, and the Garden.

For several years prior to 1950, there had been discussion by some members of the Board as to the amount of resources available

resignation, and Bullard retracted his. The Board reiterated their commitment to re search and education, and began a search for a new director.

Van Rensselaer’s departure left a huge

for Van Rensselaer’s ambitious publications

void, augmented by Lockwood dc Forest’s death and Beatrix Farrand’s resignation. Van

and research program. Tensions reached

Rensselaer moved to Saratoga, California

a head in June 1950 when Van Rensselaer

with Eleanor, where he founded the Saratoga

tendered his resignation, and Board President Sellar Bullard stated that he would like to "see

Experimental Gardens with Ray Flartman, which later became the Saratoga Horticul tural Foundation; he served there as Director

a man in charge of the Garden who was not afraid to take off his coat and go out in the Garden and work.”'^ After much discussion

from 1951 until he retired in 1971.

Van Rensselaer had many accomplishyears-the Garden’s financial condition transitioned from Iments during his Garden tenuous to solid, with a tripled endowment; the land area had increased from thirteen acres in 1926 to fifty acres by 1949 due to a series of donations and purchases: a large mem bership base was established; permanent buildings had been

„4

A-'-N'-:.: 1 .

constructed, including the Blakslcy Library; there was considerable expansion of \.

plantings on the grounds, including the transformation oi the Meadow from Bermuda-grass to wildflowers; the Campbell and Pritchett Trails were added; and a series of books and journal articles

i

had been published. He sue-

An unusiuilsight—twoindies oj snow blanket the Qarden,Janu-

●'t

^■1 ary 1949. IhLsseamdconsecutive winter 0/ very cold temperatures put great stress on many of the Qarden pLintings.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

41

ccssfully lobbied to have chc island ironwood named as the official tree of Santa Barbara

co-authored boohs such as 'frets ofSanta Bar bara with Richard Broder and Will Beittel

County and the coast redwood as the official state tree. He also brought increased profes

and VJildjlowers ojthe Santa Barbara legion with Jacqueline Broughton, and oversaw

sionalism to many areas of management,and

final production of Clifton Smith’s first edi

national prestige to the Garden as a botanical and horticultural institution.

Fhe Katherine Kinsel JVfuller Era

(u)So-i972,)

tion of A Flora oJ the Santa Barbara I{egion.

The Garden also published the proceedings from the First Symposium on the Biology ofthe California Islands in 1967 Research endeavors by staff botanists en compassed tree ring analysis, genetic studies

In October 1950. chc Board appointed

ol various plants, plant breeding, and exten

Dr. Katherine Muller as Acting Director. By

sive studies of the biology of the California

April 1951, they recognized chat the talents

Islands. Harold Gladwin, a pioneering tree

they were seeking in a new director were

ring expert, established his tree ring labora

already embodied in their Acting Director,

tory at the Garden, producing publications

and she was appointed to chc permanent pose.

Unlike the previous decade, in which hidden tensions marked relations between the Board

change over the past 3,000 years and con

and Director, chc years of Muller’s director

that revealed fluctuating patterns of climatic tributed to greater understanding of South western archeology, Marta Walters, along with others, studied plant chromosomes

ship were characterized by an atmosphere ol calm efficiency. In 1952, Board President

and disruption ol chromosome structure and

Bullard could report:

function by radiation; her work was funded

fhe cooperation oj the Officers and Irust-

by the National Institutes of Health. Staff

ees, the outstanding ejjiciency ofthe Director,

members E. R. Blakley and Martin Piehl

Katherine Muller, with her office staffFrances

began floristic inventories ol chc Calilornia

Ilannah and Katherine Miller, the energy and

Islands in 1953. building on chc earlier plant collections—now housed in the Garden’s Her

loyalty ofjach Keifer and his Qardeners—in short, the complete harmony and goodwill

barium—of Ralph Holfmann. Lorenzo Yates,

throughout the organization, make the office of President almost a sinecuref^^

and others who surveyed these fragile insular ecosystems during the 1920s and 1930s.

For the next twenty-three years. Kather ine Muller oversaw a transformation of the

new buildings were needed. Lucah Maria

To support these important endeavors,

Garden from hometown jewel to an institu

Riggs designed offices lor each side ol chc Li

tion of international prominence. A superb

brary. and these were added in 1959 and 1961.

administrator, she had chc ability to work well with Board, staff. Garden members, university faculty and researchers, as well as chc community at large. Her vision for the Garden had a clear focus—celebration of chc native California flora and regional planted landscapes—and she was able to articulate this focus through a wide range of activities and creative expressions.

Riggs also designed the new research wing in 1964, which was completed with funding Irom chc National Science Foundation and chc Santa Barbara Foundation, and included laboratories, seed storage areas, offices lor researchers, and information window, chc last later expanded into the Garden Shop.

Muller’s team completed an enlarged unit for horticultural research and propagation in 1973,encompassing a glass house, lath house,

She sponsored a publications program chat included many popular articles for chc

and nursery area on chc ease side of Mission

public on wildflowers and garden planes. She

Canyon Road.

NOTICIAS

42 A herbarium building to house the Garden’s collection of dried plant specimens

days afccr rhc board meeting during which harrand’s resignation was announced.

was initiated in 1973 and completed the

Although Cornell’s oflicc gave occasional

following year. Designed by John Pitman,

input on the Garden’s landscape plans in the

this fireproof building has. for the last thirty

ensuing years, much of the interaction be tween the Garden and CorneH's office began

years, housed the region's largest scientific collection of preserved Central Coast plant specimens. Collectively, the specimens, now over 140,000 in number, document the ecology and geography of the region’s plant diversitv.'^^

to center on displays for the Santa Barbara Fair and Horse Shows. Cornell’s office would prepare designs for the displays, and Muller and her staff would select the plants and refine the designs to suit their tastes and prag

In addition to supporting research and horticultural initiatives, Muller had many

matic considerations related to space and site constraints. The Ciarden won a succession of

innovative ideas for piquing the public’s

blue ribbons(1951, 1954, 1955, 1957)for its

interest in plants. Beginning in 1949, she

beautiful drought-tolerant designs.

Muller and the Board settled on a IcKal

gave weekly radio broadcasts about plants and spoke frequently to various community

solution to landscape design: the Plant

groups on a wide variety of plant-related top

ings and Grounds Committee, which had

ics. The Garden began to participate in the

formed in February 1949 as the Plantations Committee. After Muller became Director,

city’s annual flower show, creating stunning exhibits using native plants that consistently were awarded blue ribbons. After she hired Jacqueline Patman Broughton as Educational Coordinator in 1963. classes for the public

the Plantings and Grounds Committee was composed of Katherine Muller, Elizabeth de Forest. Mildred (Mrs. E. O.) Orpet, and Dorothy Crofton-Atkins. Later additions to

expanded, including Muller’s popular Trees

this committee included Campbell Grant.

about'Krwn and monthly wildllowcr forays, as well as visits to wilderness areas and other

John Pitman, and others. In the early years of Muller’s tenure this committee was inti

gardens. Trail guides such as the Quide to

mately involved with all aspects of grounds

the Qarden, Nature Trail, and History Trail were created. She initiated a docent program

filled earlier by dc Forest and Farrand.

maintenance and design, mirroring the roles

involving volunteers in fostering appreciation

During Grounds Superintendent E.R.

of the native flora by both school children and interested visitors.

"Jim” Blaklcy’s years at the Garden (1956-

Changes in approach to Garden design

Elizabeth de Forest, and Mildred Orpet made

1963). a triad composed of Katherine Muller.

during Dr. Muller’s tenure were inevitable.

Thursday morning weekly rounds of the

The Landscape Advisory Committee had concluded its work with the creation of a

Garden plantings. Blakley and Data Emery, the Garden's Horticulturist(1955-1980) and

revised Master Plan, as well as the design

Plant Breeder(1980-1991)would accompany

and installation of the new Garden courtyard,

them and ensure that their requests were

entrance steps, and parking area, which were

carried out, Blakley remembered the three

completed in 1950. Losing the talents of de

women working beautifully together, each

Forest and Farrand impacted the Garden on

bringing a different perspective to their col laboration. Muller had the administrator's

many levels and for a time Muller and the Board of Trustees pursued the idea of hiring

view as well as a knack for good design. Dc

an outside consultant to aid with design.

Forest was more formal, bringing vast experi

They approached both the landscape archi tects Garrett Eckbo and Ralph Cornell just

ence in growing both native and exotic plants to the mix. along with wonderlul design

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

43

pcrspcccivcs. Also knowledgeable. Mildred

with this dilemma and experiment with

Orpec was a jolly presence who served as

solutions, trying a variety of techniques in

the sccrccary, noting all recommendations

order to extend the blooming season, includ

ol their meetings on a clipboard for later discussion and/or documentation. The three

ing supplemental irrigation, pruning back to stimulate a second bloom, and other cultural

u’omcn visited all parts ol the Garden and

practices.

talked at length about design and plant place

Although 1952 was a very wet year, the

ment, often ’’spotting” the plants themselves. ”Dara and 1 would trundle behind.’’’■’‘'The

following year proved to be the second driest

women told Emery what they wanted for a

This took its toll on the beach strawberry

given planting, and he told them what was available or could be srown.

in the Meadow chat had been planted in

year on record, with only 6,98 inches ol rain.

In later years, there was a shift towards

1947, and again the Meadow was plowed under; this time the soil was treated with

staff-directed design and programs, while

a weed killer (methyl bromide) to eliminate

Board members coniined their activities pri

Oxalis, vetch, and Bermuda grass. Mixed

marily to policy-making. Dr. Ralph Philbrick was hired in 1964 as a scientist, and remem

wildtlowcrs (California poppy and lupine) were sown in lall 1953 and then the beach

bers that Dara Emery and Katherine Muller made most ol the horticultural decisions lor

strawberry was again replanted in 1954(lrom

most plantings.

i-ii

A persistent design issue for the Garden

1700 plants grown in the Garden’s nursery), this time lasting seven years. The Meadow

Irom its inception has been the difficulty of

was replanted in beach strawberries two additional times, but the strawberries were

providing year-round color with California

prone to root roc and also adversely allccccd

native plants, a design Icature that many

by the heavy clay soil and accumulated salts

visitors expect. As soon as Katherine Muller

from irrigation.

became Acting Director she began to wrestle

In 1962, the strawberries were dug up

Dr. Katherine Jvhdler, at left, chats with three supporters oj the Qarden. MuLlerjoined the Qarden staJJ in ig^S and served as Director from 2950 to igj']. She encouraged an active publications program and Qarden member ship doubled during her tenure.

NOTICIAS

44 for the last time, and wildflowers were once

across the canyon adjacent to Mission Creek.

again sown in the Meadow. Six years later,

Ralph Philbrick designed the new plantings,

vv'ccds were competing so intensely with

and oversaw the addition of unique island

the wildflowers that, once again, a new ex periment was launched. Over hve thousand

specimens through the years.

In 1959. the Forest Section was also

plants of the yellow-blooming herbaceous

greatly expanded, with the addition ot a

perennial. St. John’s Wort {liyperiaimfor-

new trail funded by William Stratton Porter,

mosum var, scoideri), were grown from seed

an attorney and generous philanthropist.

and then transplanted to the Meadow. Beds

Plantings along the new trail borders were

on either side of the Meadow were planted

completed in the first year, along with a new

with Carmel creeper {Ceanothus griseivs) to

bench and a plaque bearing these words,"A trail to a closer walk with nature.”

produce contrasting blue flowers and visual interest. Three years later, public demand

In September 1964. the Coyote fire

resulted in a replanting of the wildflower meadow,so the St. John’s Wort was torn out

burned intci the Garden and caused damage

and wildflowers were replanted annually for another decadeT^ Other new plantings during this period

to several sections, most especially the new Porter Trail.

Flames hunied across the mn-th end of the

included a new ground-cover display and

Qarden, through the I^du>ood Section, aUmg the Pritchett '[rail cm the ivest, and up the. old,

a home demonstration garden at the upper

undeveloped olive slope on the east into the

end ot the Meadow to help the home owner

I drest Section. Plantings along the Poncr'[rail

visualize native plants in the confines ot a

ivere severely damaged and the pines at the top

small yard setting. The Island Section was

of the Forest Section on the ridge ahoveMission

moved from the old parking lot area by Mission Canvon Road to a new location

only a small portion of the Qarden ivas hwned,

Canyon l^ad ivere destnryed

Even though

the inventory of burned and scorched ^

picijits tofa/ed ot'er i,5oo /recs and shrubs in addition to many small 144

perennials.

William Porter died in 1964. and funds given in his memory were used to extend the trail and create a Ceanothus Section on the sunny, recently charred hillside, where it remains to this day.

Under Muller’s stewardship the Garden grew from fifty to sixty-five acres and membership doubled. In recognition of her outstanding con-

Lutah ?>iaria Riggs designed ti number of buildingsfor the Qarden, including the BLiksley Library. 1lere she is pictured in heroffice in the early ig^os.Santa Barbara I listnrical Society photograph.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

45

Qarden I lorticuituralist Dara Emery,in hat,conducts a plant propagation cLiss in u;5> Under Dr. d^hdlcr’s guidance lLs Director, the number and variety of classes offered to the{nddic expanded.

crihutions co the profession, Muller received

According to their son. Bob, "Although they

many awards during her tenure at the Crar-

did not collaborate directly in terms ot publi cations, theirs was a lifelons collaboration of ideas. It w'as clear to me as a child that each

den. including the Eloisc Payne Luquer Medal trom the Garden Club ot America and aw'ards i rom the American Association of Bcuanical

used the other as a sounding board tor things

Ciardens and Arboreta, the California Conser

they had been thinking about.

Katherine Muller died in Santa Barbara

vation C(5uncil, and the International Shade Tree Conference. She preferred, however, to let the Garden’s work speak lor itsell.'^'^ After she retired in 1973, she became Direc

’●Hfi

on August 17 1995; Neil Muller passed away on January 26, 1997

tor Emerita ot the Garden, attending Garden

7/ie Co7itC7npomry Period

staff meetings and also serving as a member ot the Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1988,

(igyj -Present)

She was elected an honorary Trustee in 1989, The Library Annex was opened in her honor in 1982. housing a collection of botanical and horticultural fournals; it was renamed the Katherine Kinsel Muller Reading Room in 1995.

At the same time that Dr. Muller’s career was nourishing, her husband Neil worked on taxonomic, ecological, and historical projects out ot his laboratory at UCSB. He enjoyed a national reputation in the field of plant ecol

In the early years of the Garden’s his tory. its tiny stall, with limited resources, was greatly enhanced by the onsite use of the talents ot its Board, Advisory Commit tee members, as well as its Directors. These advisers brought considerable expertise and made signiheant contributions to the orga nization as a whole. The beautiful layout of the Garden, which in the central area highlights the view across the oval Meadow to the mountains in the north and ocean to

ogy. Once in a great while, the couple collabo

the south, can be directly attributed to the

rated on a paper, although this was unusual.

landscape artistry of Ervanna Bowen Bissell,

NOTICIAS

46 Lockwood de Forest, Beatrix Farrand. and

Philbrick worked as a Research Associate

Katherine Muller and her associates.

in the celebrated Liberty Hyde Bailey Hor-

As the organization grew, there were

toriiim (the herbarium at Cornell University

more professional stall members to carry

in Ithaca, New York) and traveled widely

out day-to-day operations and more hnancial resources with which to operate. Further, in recent decades non-profit boards nation

during his study of garden Camellias. He came to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as a taxonomist, with research interests

wide have generally shifted Irom hands-on

centering on the evolutionary relationships

involvement to policy making. Although there have been several talented landscape architects on the Board ol Trustees since

and on lurthering the Garden’s studies ot the California Islands, In 1973. when Katherine

of prickly-pear cactus in the genus Opuntia

1950. none have been as involved in onsite

Muller retired, he was appointed Director

planning as Lockwood dc Forest and Beatrix Farrand. followed by Elizabeth de Forest and

of the Garden, a position that he held for thirteen years.

Mildred Orpet.

Each Director in the last three decades

During his tenure. Dr. Pliilbrick continued

has had his or her own approach to planting

the scientific research program that had been a Garden tradition since its establishment in

design in the Garden, although all have col laborated with horticultural stall and only

ecosystems, as well as taxonomic work on

occasionally hired a landscape architect lor

evolutionary relationships ol native species.

a special project. Each encouraged expansion of research and education programs as well,

In addition to island and Opuntia research, he maintained massive written hies on the

resulting in an institution that is a commu

California flora and expanded the herbarium

nity jewel with international recognition lor

holdings of valuable early specimens and horticultural material from the Santa Barbara

program excellence.

1926—studies ot natural communities and

● I{alp>h Noivdl Pliilbridi, Director itjyy

area, Wlien Clifton Smith retired as Librarian

xcjcS/; While a graduate student, Ralph

from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural

Dr. l\alph Philhrick, served as Qarden Directorfrom igyy to igby. Commitment to scientijic research deepeiied during his di~ rectorship,icith special attention paid to the Calijoniia IsLinds.'Ihe Qankn’sjirst neivsletter tutis issued under his ivatch. Photograph hy William B. Dewey.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

47

History in 1985, Philbrick was instrumental

Tlie new Horticulture Unit on the eastern

in bringing him. along with his extensive

hillside, funded by the Stanley Smith Horti

personal herbarium collection, back to the Garden to continue his work on the flora of

cultural Trust, was designed by Bob Bronfen and constructed in 1985. consisting ot a build

the Santa Barbara region.

Philbrick s commitment to island research

ing housing two offices, general propagation

led to the first symposium on the biology of

classroom space. In the surrounding area, a

work area, seed-drying shelves, storage, and

the California Islands in 1965, a symposium

glasshouse, lath house, plant breeding house,

scries that continues to this day Held at the Garden, the foremost scientists on island

can yard, and nearby test plots and experi

biology of that time presented papers, which

by horticulture staff.

were then published in a much-cited volume.

mental growing grounds continue to be used Philbrick was intimately Involved in

Proceedings ofthe Symposium on the Biology oj

development of the Garden grccunds. Work

the California Islands (Ralph Philbrick. edi

ing first with horticulturist Data Emery and

tor, 1967); he also published other scholarly

then with Carol Bernstein, he participated in

papers in ensuing years. Under Philbrick’s

planting walks and design discussions, Phil

leadership, the Garden directed ongoing island studies for the National Park Service

brick described this process in the Garden’s 1976 Annual Report:

and the Nature Conservancy and grew to

This was the third yearofannxuil landscape

be recognized as an international center for island research.

andplanting revieiv by P^lph Philbrick, Dara

Philbrick had established a new Island

portion ofthe Qardcn is considered, distracting

Section in the lower portion of the Canyon

plantmaterialis removed,andnew and interest-

in 1966 during Katherine Muller’s tenure.

ing plants are added where possible. Bach year

Emery,and David Leaberry. The design ofeach

The original Island Section had given way

Dara Emery grtyws planting materialjrom cut-

to the parking lot in 1950, so only a small

tings, seeds, and divisions obtained in the wild;

area remained for both the Arroyo and Island

and careful recotxis are k^pt on the smirces ofnew

sections, Tlie intent of the new display was

plant accessions. A Buildings and Qrounds Committee advised the staffon the most dijfcidt

to showcase the ornamental value of many

HS

plants of the California Islands and to allow comparisons of related plants collected on

landscape problems.

He favored natural communities and/or a

different islands that were grown in the same environment.147

a particular dislike for leggy plants and con

naturalistic layout to any planting, and had

He also helped to formulate the concept

spicuous signage. An unimpeded view from

and design for the new herbarium building,

the plants at a visitor’s feet to far vistas was his ideal. As a result, he was also active in

a project begun under Muller's direction and completed in 1974, with donations from Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gladwin, the Santa Barbara

procuring properties adjacent to the Garden and sharpened the concept, begun under Dr.

Fecundation, and the Doris Fay Palmer Trust.

Clements, for the evergreen shrub borders

Herbarium equipment was provided by Mr. and Mrs, E, R. Chandler. Architect John

along Mission Canyon Road—a green cor

Pitman created the design for the structure,

to the mountains beyond.

which includes thick walls to protect the

ridor that draws the visitor’s eye up the road

priceless specimens in case of a wildfire. The

Building on designs created by Ervanna Bowen Bissell, Lockwood dc Forest, and

Garden’s 1974 Annual Report noted that

Beatrix Farrand, the Meadow area was pur

Pitman was "both helped and hindered by

posefully framed by larger evergreen plants on the east and west sides:

suggestions from the Garden staff.’’

NOTICIAS

Valley clwlla, 19S9. Photograph Iry Alan WdsskppfIhe Porter Irail, u)8§

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SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

49 Dam Iimcry afixture at tlie Qanicn Jorover thirty-fiveyeats,serving as Qa^xlen Ilortie-ulturist firom 1953 to igSo then as Plant Bi'eederto iggi-

year-round inceresc, and educate the public about endangered grassland habitats.

Landscape architect Isabelle Greene provided a number of suggestions lor arrangement of the Meadow borders, including an "irregular block design using low shrubs and intcrplanted annuals.”’’” An herbaceous perennial border of Calitornia natives planted in the English tradition was designed and planted by Bornstein and her stafl in 1987 on the west side of the Meadow' near the sundial.

The cool stately splendor ol the Redwood Section is a magnet lor visi tors all year long. Wlien the redwoods were measured in 1983, the tallest tree was 118 feet in height and had a crown Dara has described the basic Aicadoiv

diameter ot 44 feet. The spreading understory ol redw'ood sorrel, lush terns, and

design as including conifers at the top (nonh

diverse assemblage ot herbaceous perennials

end)of the Aleadmv and clumps of large ju'

and woody rcdw'ocxl associates magnifies the

nipers along the east side. 'Ihere are Luge live

naturalistic appearance of this section; many

oalts along the west side; and the trees near

people mistake it tor a native forest, although

the south end, plus the Blahsley boidder, give a balance in mass and between conifers and

forest today is two hundred miles north in

the nearest naturally-occurring redwood

149

broaddeaf plants.

Once again, ongoing problems with per

southern Monterey County.

Md7izanitci Section:To the south ol the

vasive w'ecds in the Meadow area pnn'ided

main Garden buildings, a sunny rock-strewn

an opportunity for innovation. In 1981

terrace hosts a display of manzanita [Arc-

Carol Bornstein began to transform the

tostaphylos). which were planted here in the late 1970s alter the Ccanothus collection w'as

Garden’s Meadow'from a seasonal display ol w'ildtlowers into a grassland habitat. A

moved to the Porter Trail. A comprehensive

scries ot experiments ensued; the drilts ot

assemblage ot both manzanita species and

native grasses and patches of annual and pe

cultivars is grown in this area. A mixed

rennial W'ildtlowers w'cre designed to evoke

border ot gray-ioliaged drought-tolerant

the ambience of a native prairie. Additional goals w'cre to reduce w'atcr use, improve

plants W'as designed by Carol Bornstein and her stall in 1986 for a rock-lined bed at the

soil texture, increase species diversity and

southern end of this section; it w'as planted

NOTICIAS

50 in memory of Polly Anderson, a long-term Garden volunteer.

Cjdixlcn Qroivcrsand aj\civ Plant Breed ing Program: Philbrick encouraged horticul tural activities on many levels, and in 1974

as well as livc-ycar plans and a new longrange Master Plan tor the Garden. Working with the Board ol Trustees, he established the Garden’s first organized development program and signihcantly increased hnancial backing,

Dara Emery organized a volunteer group, the

annual giving, and grants and contracts to

Garden Growers, to propagate and sell native

support Garden programs. Admission lees

plants to the public.' The two also initiated

were charged lor the first time, providing new

a plant breeding program in 1980, and Emery

revenue. He was most proud of his promotion

began working full time on plant breeding ct forts. He received the prestigious Mitchell

and hiring ot four women to senior positions

Award for his development ol Iris Canyon

at the Garden, and reported that one halt of all new hires were women or ethnic minorities

Snow’from IrisdouglasLma parents in 1979.

while he directed the Garden.

I.'i2

The low-growing Artanisia Canyon Gray’

He hired the first volunteer administra

as well as the spectacular gray-leaved Lcymus

tor to coordinate the efforts and talents of

'Canyon Prince’ are popular cultivars that were selected on the California Islands by

dedicated community members. Additional

Philbrick and brought back as cuttings to the Garden for horticultural study and eventual introduction into the commercial trade. Em

ing was obtained for completion ot A I'lord

ery also wrote his seminal Seed Propagation

Garden for the first time in three decades to

scientists joined the research staff, and fund ojSanta Cruz Island, published in 1995. The National Science Foundation visited the

ofNative California Plants with Philbrick’s

review research programs and proposals.

encouragement, published in 1988.

Philbrick’s tenure as Director was charac

Under Young’s direction, special events such as "Give the Earth a Hand Day” in

terized by a quiet emphasis on bringing public

troduced hundreds of people to the Garden

recognition to the Garden. The Clarden’s first

and its programs. The Ciarden offered more

newsletter. Cjleaningsjrom the (.jarden. was initiated in 1975; it highlighted botanical and horticultural information for members,

classes, tours, and school programs than ever

as w'cll as events and classes. Education

collaboration with University ol California

programs expanded, with class offerings

Cooperative Extension in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

and held trips that attracted an enthusiastic grt)up of supporters. He resigned in 1987 and is now semi-retired, working part-time as a botanical consultant.

before. Along with education staff, he helped to establish the Master Gardener program in

'Ihc nLisUm'.-Vjucduct Trail: in 1989, the Easton-Aqueduct Trail, the first new trail

● David Allen Tmng, Director u)88 to

in thirty years, opened on the west side of Mission Creek south of the Island Section;

u;yi.'David Young served as Director of the

funding was provided by the lace Robert

Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium ol Cornell

O. Easton, a k)ng-cerm Ciarden supporter,

University before coming to the Garden in 1988; he obtained a Ph.D. from Claremont

author, and community activist. He loved

College. A taxonomist with a specialty in the

create a path through the naturally-occurring southern oak woodland habitat. Portions of

systcmatics of plants in the cashew family.

Young brought considerable administrative skills and an abundance of enthusiasm to his position as Garden Director.

During his brief tenure, he created new administrative policies with his senior staff.

undisturbed native vegetation and wanted to

the Mission Aqueduct system were uncov 153

ered during trail construction, I iome Dcmo7islration Qarden: In 1989 the Garden contracted with a talented San Francisco Bay Area landscape architect, Ron

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

51

Luciko, Jr,. CO design a new' Home Demon-

Young left the Garden to return to aca demia, as Dean at the Universitv of Okla

.scracion Garden. Wich plane selection by Carol Bornsccin, this section surrounds the

homa. Today he is Dean and Professor of

original caretaker's cottage built in 1926,

Plant Bi(dogy for the College ot Liberal Arcs

providing both design ideas and spccihc solutions tor lionie owners. Completed in

and Sciences at Arizona State University. ● Edward Lee Schneider, President and

1991, this garden promotes the u.se ot native

CEO iggz-Presenl: Like Frederic Cle

California plants in the home landscape and

ments, E. J. Bissell, Katherine Muller, Ralph

serves as a model water-conserving garden.

Philbrick. and David Young, Ed Schneider

Educational inccrprecacion was integrated

brought a doctoral degree and considerable

into the design planning process from the

scientific expertise to his position as Garden

project's inception.

President and CEO. Prior to coming to the Garden, he received his Ph.D. at UC Santa

Cjnabjoreke gcirdeniuerc to demonstrate the {jrindples involved in designing a zvata-'Con-

Barbara and then served as Dean of the Col

,scn’inggdn/en;to display plants appropriatejor Sonthcni C alijomia’s yMeditcfranean climate;

lege of Science at Southwest Texas State Uni

and to slunv that a garden oj native California

versity, where he worked for twenty years. A prolific writer, he has authored five books and

plants can he beaiUiJul year-round.In creating

over one hundred scientific papers. Despite a

the garden, staffjociised on native plants that

full schedule managing the Garden, Schneider

a)xeasy tognnv,complanent each other visually,

works with Dr. Sherwin Carlquist in the

and are readily available at nurseries.

Garden's structural botany laboratory every

Ihe completed garden includes a shadegar de)!,perennial borders, twjsubstitutes,decora

week,conducting scientific explorations that arc shedding light on the pollination biology,

tive pots, and various hardscape ela)ients—all

origins, and evolution ot plants.

oJ which .serve as examples and ideasJorpeople

Schneider may be better known in the national botanical arena than in downtown

to use in designing their oivn ganlens.''’'^

Santa Barbara. A recipient of both teaching and research awards, he remains active in undergraduate and graduate teaching at the UC Santa Barbara. He is an active Board member of several organizations including the Botanical Society of America, Ameri can Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta. American Association of Museums, and the International Watcriily Society. His honors include being named a Fellow of the Texas Academv of Science; Hall of Fame in

Dr. Edward Schneider has been Qarden President and CEO since 1992. Levels of scholarship and pwjessionalis)n have con tinued to )ise under his leadership. Hduca turn has been at the core ojmany initiatives taken during his stewardship.

NOTICIAS

52 the International Watcrlily Society; Dis tinguished Alumnus. Centra! Washington University; Botanical Society of America Award of Merit; the Centennial Medallion lor excellence and distinction from Southwest Texas State University; and Outstanding Faculty Member, University of Calilornia, Santa Barbara.

Haller, a renowned cxpcrc on the California flora, from UC Santa Barbara to the Garden in 1993; Dr. Shirley Tucker, an expert on lichens and floral development from Louisi ana State University to the Ciarden in 1995; and Charis Bratt, a leading authority on lichens from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in 1998, along with 18.000

to enhance the level of professionalism and

specimens of California lichens. In 2002, Dr. Robert Muller, son of Drs. Katherine

scholarship at the Garden. He conterred

and Cornelius Muller, became the Garden’s

He implemented a number of initiatives

with staff to prepare policy and procedure

Director of Research after serving as the

manuals for programs and human resources

Chairman of the Department of Forestry at

management for the first time. He formalized a Memorandum ot Understanding between

the University of Kentucky for many years.

the Garden and the University ot Calilornia

Barbara and has recently revised Trees of SantaBarbara.Schneider’s commitment was

at the Regents level that provides Garden scientists with adjunct professor appoint ments and the opportunity to teach university courses, Thc Garden also became one of a handful of public gardens in the United States to be honored with accreditation by the American Association of Museums. The distinguished Center for Plant Conservation invited the Garden to become one of only thirty-three member organizations in 1996; the Garden serves as the nationally-recog nized center for conservation of Central Coast and California Island plants.

He also serves as a professor at UC Santa

encapsulated in a recent statement: 'The Santa Barbara Botanic Qarckn since its inception has been true to itsJounding vision: to be an educational and scientific institution dedicated tofostering stexvardship of the botani cal world through inspired learning, rigorous scholarship,andpremierdispLiys.Asan accred ited museum oflivingplants ive are dedicated to the communities ive serve. Ultimately, the ivork, of museumssuch as the Santa Barbara Botanic Qarden isglobally beneficial. Botanicalgardens are essential to sustaining the world’s ecological

Schneider was instrumental in arranging

diversity and shaping conservatim strategies.

for Dr. Sherwin Carlquist to continue his

16 do this effectively requires dissemination

structural botany research at the Garden after his retirement from the Rancho Santa

ofknowledge, so the need for education on the local level is crucial. Successful conservation

Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont College

programs not only increase environmental

in 1992. Carlquist was awarded the 2002 Linncan Medal for Botany by the Linncan

/{nowledge within the comnnmity, but also

Society of London, their highest honor. The

necessary to address environmental challenges.

award citation noted that Dr. Carlquist is

By augmenting education offered in localschools and universities,the Qardenfills a crucial need

'’preeminent as a plant bio-geographer and

develop the skills, expertise, and commitment

island biologist, and the leading living au

m making such programs personally relevant to

thority on wood anatomy. When viewed

students and the public.

1.55

as part or as a whole. Dr. Carlquist’s career

Education programs: Before Luigi Rcgi-

is one of magnificent achievements in terms of his innumerable intellectual contributions

nato first plowed the site of the Garden Meadow with his team of horses, before

to biology and in shaping the thinking of

the first thirteen acres were even purchased, Frederic Clements articulated an educational

generations ol biologists.”

Dr. Schneider also brought Dr. j. R.

focus for the Garden that resonates to this

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

53

day. In his drah plan lor the Garden, he spoke

hensive curriculum in California Horticulture,

of educating the visitor, "It may be made to

California Plant Diversity, and Sustainable

reveal a world ot fascinating facts about liv

Landscape Practices. Programs for children

ing things, many of them unknown even to

and families include Nature Camps, family

the devoted lover ot gardens or nature." The

workshops, and weekend and evening educa

educational mission ol the Garden permeated

tional events. In addition, new programs lor

its physical design, with community group

underrepresented children and families, such

ings, plantings of unique genera, plant family

as the Joiuh Enrichment Adventure program

156

groupings, and experimental gardens.

and I'arnCamp, expose new audiences to the

The Bissclls created plant labels and signs within the Garden’s first year, and Maunsell Van Rensselaer ottered the first class for

amazing diversity of the natural world; the.se

Scout Leaders in 1935. Katherine Muller was

Los Padres National Forest, respectively. /(e.sL’drc/i.'Scientific research has formed the backbone of Garden endeavors from its

hired as Associate in Education in 1948. and alter she was Director, she brought Jacque line Patman Broughton to the Ciardcn. who

programs arc cosponsored by the Gevirtz Research Center at UC Santa Barbara and

expanded programs to encompass classes,

founding in 1926. Research facilities include the Garden herbarium, several laborato

lorays, lectures, workshops, teacher educa

ries, greenhouses, and growing areas. The

tion programs, school tours, and much more.

Garden’s herbarium, managed by Curator Steve Junak. consists of over 140.000 dried

An increased locus on field trips and classes tor adults involving identification and eco logical relationships of plants characterized Dr. Steven Timbrook’s tenure as Educational

specimens ol plants, representing early collections from the Central Coast resion. as well as providing documentation ol the

Coordinator from 1976 to 1987. along with

California plant diversity. This tool forms

developing a strong core of docents to share their love ol the Garden with visitors and tour

the basis lor ongoing scientific research in ecology, floristics, taxonomy, and conserva

groups. School programs, teacher education

tion biology. The herbarium also contains

w(irkshops, kits lor classrocjm use, classes,

laboratory research space and regularly hosts

certificate programs, symposia, exhibits, and grounds interpretation were among the

visiting scientists.

Both at the Garden and in the field, on

initiatives pursued by Mary Carroll. Director of Education from 1988 to 1998.

disciplines: floristics and systematic botany

going investigations center on the following

Today the Garden’s education programs

(geographic distributions and evolution

encompass a broad range of classes, certificate

ary relationships of plants), ecology (pat

programs, workshops, field courses, lectures,

terns. processes, interrelationships of living

and teacher instruction. Under the leadership

things), conservation biology (biology of

ol Dr. Barry Tanowicz, Director ol Science Education, and Sallv Isaacson, Director ol

rare plants and associations), and structural botany (structures, cells, tissues and their

Curriculum and Instruction, the Garden has

significance).

developed programs offered through the

Structural botany: Scanning electron

Centerfor leaching Calijoniia Ecology, which reaches more than 10.000 children and adults

microscopy and a range ol other techniques are utilized by Ed Schneider and Sherwin

annually.

Carlquist to examine plant structures and

Certification programs arc offered lor veduntcer docents. Master Gardeners, and

relate fi ndings to structure, lunction, and evolutionary relationships. Carrying on a

Garden Growers, as well as for interested

tradition ol structural botany studies initiated

community members who desire a compre¬

by Dr. Marta Walters in the 1950s,Schneider

NOTICIAS

54 and Carlquist have co-authored over forty

cion to promote and coordinate research on

papers in the past eight years on structural

rare plants, including botanical inventories;

botany which may shed light on the origins

database management; cultivation of rare

ol flowering plants.

plants, including preservation of seeds and

'[he California Idand.s: The Garden is

living plants in the Garden’s Conservation

world-renowned lor its research on plants

Collection; laboratory, greenhouse, and held

Irom the California Islands, a program that

research on the rcpnxluctivc biology and ecol

Dr. Ralph Philbrick expanded, beginning

ogy of rare species; restoration management;

in the 1960s. building on earlier work by Garden staff and associates. For over fifty

and other related investigations.

Member of the national Center tor Plant

years. Botanic Garden surveys and inven

Conservation since 1996, the Garden is

tories have significantly enhanced botanical

the only organization actively developing

knowledge of these remarkable offshore terrains. As a result, the herbarium includes

and maintaining a conservation collection of endangered species in the Central Coast

over 30.000 specimens of the California

region. The Botanic Garden’s work on state

Islands' vascular plants and lichens, which

and federally listed species is implemented

are consulted by researchers throughout the world. Collaboration with The Nature

through cooperative agreements v\-ith the

Conservancy. Catalina Island Conservancy.

Channel Islands National Park, and the U.

California Department of Fish and Game, the Los Padres National Forest, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

S. Navy, has provided the foundation lor

Dr. Dieter Wilken became Director of

scientific management of these globally

Botanical Research, now Vice President of

unique ecosystems. Ongoing inventories of

Education and Plant Sciences, in 1993; he

vascular plants by Herbarium Curator Steve

managed the Jepson A ldniuil project at UC

junak and of lichens by Lichcnologist Charis Bratt continue to contribute to this effort.

Berkeley and was a Colorado State Univer sity professor. Garden conservation studies

'Ihe Central Coast Centerjar Plant Consewatiun: For decades the Garden has made

conducted by Wilken focus on the biology of

a concerted effort to document the flora of

tions ol seed dormancy and germination, life

California’s "Central Coast Bioregion," from

history characteristics, and plant longevity.

several rare island plants, as well investiga

Monterey and San Beniar counties south to

Through cooperation with The Nature Cc^n-

'Ventura County, including the California Is

scrvancy, experimental recovery efforts arc

lands—home to a remarkable flora including

being conducted for island species on Santa Cruz Island. Similar studies on the rare Santa

over four hundred species found nowhere else in the w'orld. Garden botanist Clifton F. Smith

Ynez false-lupine {'[hennopsLs macrophylLi)

(1920-1999) conducted field and herbarium

have been initiated, with the purpose of

studies of the regional flora for over filty

characterizing its habitat and life history characteristics.

years. Today, these studies continue, with an emphasis on identifying areas of endemism, that is. areas with high concentrations of plants found no where else in the w^orld. Some endemics arc threatened wdth extinction and

Dr. Robert Muller, Director of Research, studies long-term vegetation patterns to examine the direct and indirect effects of urbanization on plants in the Central Coast

Garden botanists work with agencies to ac

area. An expert on native and exotic trees, he

curately determine rare plant distributions and

is completely revising ‘IrecsoJSanta Barham,

monitor existing populations.

In 2001, the Garden established the

Nancy Vivrette investigates seed dormancy

Central Coast Center for Plant Conserva-

and germination in Calih^rnia native plants.

with photography by Dr. Bob Haller. Dr.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

55

wich an emphasis on understanding both

horticultural displays arc being refined by

shore-term and long-term changes in vegeta tion patterns.

Vice President of Horticulture, Jeff Cope, who brings thirty years experience in urban

'lfu:Biak.slcy Libran: From the small table

horticultural management in Santa Barbara

ot books placed out under the Meadow oaks in 1927 to the donation in 1941 of several

to the Garden. Universal access to the living

hundred books and other publications belong ing to writer and naturalist Charles Francis Saunders, to the 15,000-volume collection

collections is being planned and implemented throuahout the Garden.

O The Garden's Dudteya display on the northeast side of the Meadow was planted

today, the Blaksley Library continues to provide vital resources lor researchers, educa

Forest. Succulent livc-forevers {Diidleya)

tors. and scholars. The books in the Library

occupy a broad range of habitats in arid en

collection represent important botanical and horticultural works on California flora,

of form and color; the CTardcn's display now

in 1993 in memory of Elizabeth Kcllam dc

vironments. exhibiting an amazing diversity

Mediterranean floras ol the world,landscape

contains over fifty different kinds of livc-for-

history, and the disciplines of botany and

evers. In 2002 tfic Diidleya collection became

horticulture. Specialized monographs and journals provide detailed results of new

a member of tlic prestigious American Plant

scientific investigations.

The rare book collection contains over

Collection Consortium, sponsored by the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta.

one thousand books and journals dating

7/ic Plant Fiber Arts Display celebrates

back to the seventeenth century with many

the ingenuity of California's native peoples

line examples ol botanical illustration, key

in utilizing plant fibers for a broad range of

works in the exploration of the American West, and the flora ot Calilornia. Non-book

purposes. This unique display, installed in 1997 belov\' the Mission Dam, combines

collections include maps, over 20,000 plni-

living displays ot California basketry plants

tographic images, manuscript collections;

with glass-topped exhibit cases that contain

architectural drawings, reprint collections,

examples of plant fibers used tor basketry,

clippings files, 1.500 nursery and .seed cata

nets, clothing, and other objects. IhcAiission

logs, botanical artwork, and the Garden’s institutional archives.

facts that depict the creativity in designing

WateruH>rl{s Display features signs and arti

/{nrticidtwc rn)grams:Lwing collections,

the dam and aqueduct system, which .served

including more than one thousand kinds of

the community of Santa Barbara for one

plants, arc featured in displays througliout the

hundred years.

Garden grounds, accessible by over 5.5 miles of trails. Behind tlie scenes detailed records and active collections management practices

The Mission Dam, as part ot the Santa L^arbara Mission complex, is listed as a State Historic Landmark. The Garden initiated a

arc used to track each perennial planting.

request tor the Dam to be designated as a

These plants represent a living museum de

Santa Barbara County Landmark, which

voted to illustrating the rcinarkablc diversity

was granted in 1983. In 2003. the Santa

ol California's flora and vegetation.

Barbara County Board of Supcrvi.sors des ignated several features on the west side of

Each planting in the Garden has an educational, scientific, and/or conservation theme. Ongoing efforts to strengthen and add to the scientific and educational value ot

Mission Canyon Road as historic landmarks, including the Mission Aqueduct, Indian Steps. Entry Steps, Information Kiosk.

displays while enhancing the visitor experi

Caretaker’s Cottage, Blaksley Library, and

ence arc a priority. The aesthetic goals for

the Campbell Bridge.

NOTICIAS

56 In 2003, the Garden purchased thir

A Qardenfor All Time

teen acres of undeveloped property to the northeast, continuing its tradition of adding adjacent properties to preserve the natural

Today, stunning displays that build on Frederic Clements’ original concepts of com

ambience of Mission Canyon and provide an

munity plantings, coupled with exhibits of

unimpeded view of the ridgeline. AJapdnese

important California plant groups, comprise

’[eahouse Qarden. featuring a Japanese-.stylc

the backbone of Ciardcn plantings. And yet.

garden of California native plants surround

as Ervanna Bissell so aptly put it in 1929.

ing an authentically restored teahouse, was

"Change is universal.. . all that seems not to

completed in the lower Arroyo Section. In

change is an illusion.’’'■’'"Utilizing the never-

2004 work in the Arroyo Section on a new

ending diversity of California’s beautiful

Discovery Garden, Qarden ofthe Earth,Sky, and Water, commenced. This educational

plants at the exquisite Garden site, designers

garden will include interactive nodes for

configurations. fi>rms. and associations for almost eight wears. Beatrix Farrand reflected

different plant communities. Initially de signed for children and adults alike bv Darvl

have been tinkering with plant placements,

in 1946, "It may not be generally realized

Morrison, the garden and educational com

that plants arc really the ephemeral parts of

ponents were further developed by others before Katie O’Reilly Rogers provided the

a garden design, since they require replace ment. restoration, and constant control.

final drawings. In early 2005 environmental

Nonetheless, the general layout of the Gar

artist Patrick Dougherty twisted a truckload

den, the beauty of many of its designs, the

of willow saplings into a sculptural display

constancy of its endeavors—to enrich both

in the upper Meadow called load I lall. which will remain at the Garden for about

the local community and the world at large

two years.

with program excellence in science, educa tion, and horticulture—endure.

I 'olunteer^i have played a vital role at the Qarden since its earliest days. I kre long-time volunteer Avis Keedy shares her expertise u-ith a ymingster, igg^.

Photograph by William B. Dewey.

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

57

NOTES SBlKi Archives - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Archives

1936 in die SHlKi Arclnvc.s 37 Ibui

1 I rcdetic Clements to Bcinhard Holfniann, 5 April 1924. SBBG Archt 2 l.ivkwixxi dc Potest. Jr was actualK' the third Lockwoixl lie Forest He was called Lcxtkwxxxl Jr since his lather. Lockwood dc Iksrest II. also lived m Santa Barbara and was ptominciicly known as a painter Lor the sake of siitiplicicv. "Jr 'will be dropped in the balance of this piece when referring to dc Lorest 3 Victotia Padilla. .S'lmi/iem C'.i/i/wni.i tjoidens—.An lllut^lrMeJ //i.'tnrs (Ifcrkcley University ol California Prc.ss. 1961). 92-96. 197-202. Walkrr

Annual H^pon, Sanu (Urbara Musci ol Natural History. 192f’ 39 Caroline Writes rnbucc to Mrs Bisscll ■■ 40 Diana Balmori. Diane Ki>scial McGuire, and Eleanor M MdVek. HcMns fiarrumi's -ImeruMn/.uiiJ.s<.jpe.s //erGiuitii,Mi>idCu''if'i‘.'0(Saga|»nack.

New York Sagal’ress. Inc

1985). 17

41 John BettoMi. unpuHishcJ rceollcctions. 28 November 1975. SBBG Archives 42 .'\nnitn( fyepnl, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. 1927 43 /M

Tompkins. SiinlalAirfwrii //isro>v,'Ail!eis(Santa Barbara McNalK' and l.oiion, 1983). 22,5-227, Lli;abctli dc Lorc.si. lecture mites. 1975. SBBG Archives.

California native plants in downtown Los Angeles in 1903. whete he grew

6 William F ftters 'LtvkwiKxf dc Forest. Landscape Architect. Santa Barbara. California. 1869 - 1949'(M A thesis. Universits’ of California at Bcrkclcv. 1971). 11-12 7 As reported m the Santa Barbara fXnf).Veus and the Santa Barbara ImlepenJenl. 26 January 1918 8 Meeting notes for Wfirld Botanic Garden. 17 January 1918. SBBG Archives Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. July 1926

between four and h\e hundred species of native plants

In lObO. about a

year K'forc Ins retirement, friends csiabLshcd a loundation in his hernor. i!k Theodore Pavnc l oundation lor WddHoweis and Native Plants Lester RoWTUtec(1879-1979)wTotc several book.s and niiirc than a hundred articles on Cahfornia plants and .seeds She moved with lier husband to Carmel Highlands in the mid 1920s. where she devoted hcr.self 10.studying naiivc planes She spent nine months ol the year traveling the state alone in a batteted station wagon or packing into the back country by burro to collect seeds, which she sold to gariicns and plant specialists An ardent con-servatumisr.

11 WWW the-townhall-nvcorg 12 I'reJcric Clements. Plant Succession An Analysis of the Development of Y'cgciation." Cin7i^c/n.srituraijiiyUa.sfiirigtmiftiWicjnoii 241. 1916, Fred eric Ocments and V L Shclftinl

(New York McGraw-Hill.

1939), L E Clements. "Rc.searchc.sinLcoiogy AcclimatizationCiarJcns," I'limegie/nstitutuiruy UUs/«iigrim AfU' /fon/j.Vit. ct5{l927). 306-339 13 Edith S Clements. .AJi’enrior.' in /fen/ngs. //ui/aMtiUm Allies... i> \!nJt(iA/iicu»iim(New 5'ork. Pagacm Press. 1960). 198-199.

14 Michael Smith. Talcs ol Hullinann. .Siinni/funbtiiu.Magujinc26(Winter

she helped louiul the California Native I’lant Society 45.Annuj/Repin, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Historv. 1928 of Natural Historv. 1927 46 Anniuit Repm. Santa Barbara Nfusci 47 .\Iusenra /.c^lcf. Santa Barbara Museum of Nati 1929

il Historv, November

48 Annual Repm. Santa Batbara Museum of Natural Hi.siorv. 1930 49 Ervanna Bowen Bisscll to Maunscll Van Rensselaer, undated. SBBG Arcluscsi Ervanna Bowtn Bisscll

Back to the Soil

Wih Native Plants,

/fie VA'estem U’omun 7 (19.31) -50 John Bettolli. interview with Katherine Mullet and Ralph Philbtick. 6

2000) 71-77 I '1 Ro.sannc M Barker. Small Town I’rogrcssivism. Pearl Chase and I cinale Activism in Santa Batbara California. 1911 - 1918,'.Smu/iem (uli/iirtii.i

January 1976 in SBBG Archives .5! "The Outdoor Museum," //w.S'iJmij/fiir/iijmC/it’deiier. Julv 1927, .'bmujl Repon. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 1927 .52 Ihid.

(^n.iiter/s 79(Spring 1997) 47-100 16 Frederic Clements to Bernhard lloltmann. 5 April 1924 chives

SBBG Ar

.5.3 Bisscll.

Ttie Blakslev 13otamc Carden." in .'/tusennu'

54 Annuu/ Rfpm. Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural Himotv, lOit)

I7 Clements .AJtcnture.s. 198-190

55 -Annual R^pm, Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural l iisiorv. 1928,13crtolli

18 |●rcdcrlc Clements, typescripi. 24 Mav 1944. SBBG .Archives

interview. 6January 1976

19 Frederic Clements papers. 1926 SBBG Archives 20 IhJ

56 (Ervanna Bowen Bisscll], "Tlie Blakslev Botanic Carden ol Santa Baibata. " De,sen.(1930). 70-71

21 Clements typescript. 24 May 1944 22 A/itscum /-cu/iet. Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural Flistorv, April 1926 2.3 Minutes. l3oard of Trustees, Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural History.

.57 -Anntuil Keptui, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Hi.siory. 1929 58 Ervanna Bowen Bisscll to Maun.sell Van Rensselaer, undated, SBBG Archives

16 March 1926 24 Minutes Boatd ot Trustees. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 8 DccemK'r 1944 25 l.ockwoi.iJ and Elizabeth de Ix'rcsi. ' The Blakslev Botanic Carden, ' /lie S'.mr.i iCr/uM Cjuidow, April 1926 26 .l/ic-eum L<ajUi. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. August 1926 I'or a complete summary ol relevant documents from the |5criod. sec Mars' Carroll. "A I lisiors' ol the Santa Barbara Btiiamc kiardcn and

GiZrdeners'C/immcleii/ Arnericj(1931?)

61 Ibid 62 -Annuji Repm, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 1928 6.3 --\nmuii Ri;pm, Santa Barbara \Iuscum ol Natural Histiirv, 1926 64 Ibid

66 [Bisscll] "'nie Bl.iksley Botanic Garden." 70-71 67 Minutes. l3oard ol Tru.stees, Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural Historv.

28 li R Blakles'. interview with author, 3 January 2003 29Lr\aiina Biswen Bisscll. G'/iinp.'e,s<yS'uiifiif3arfiiiiiluiiJ .5|imtCL-i/o().iiJcn,'

25 July 1927, Clements Papers. 1926, SBBG Archi 68 F E. Clcmcms.

(Santa Barbara Schaucr Printing Studio. 1926},62.

30 .N/ieseum Lxjfia, Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural History. ScptcmK'r 1926 31 ' Caroline Hazard Wtucs Tribute to Mrs 13isscll.'* undated iicw'spa|5cr clipping in the SBBG Archives 32 Minutes. I3i>ard of Trustees. Santa Barbara Museum ol Naiural Hisiory, 15January 1929 1926. SBBy; Atebises 33 Clcnieiiis Pap 34 Minutes. Board of Iruscees. Santa Barhi

.59 ,5/u.seumLe.iCkt, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Historv. April 1929 60 Ervanna Bowen Bis.scll. "Tlw Island Trail in the Blakslev Botanic Carden. "

65 Anniuil /<cp<ni, Santa Barbara Museum ol Natural I iisiory. 1933

Its l.andscapc.s," 2003. in the SBBG Archives.

27 Clements, "Researches in Ecology. ' 306-339

69 Clements.

Researches in Ecology." 306-339

Researches in Ecoli5gv, ' Nlinutes. Board of Trustees. Santa

Batbara Museum ol Natural Hisiorv. 25 Julv 1927 70 .'ItoeuDi LcjjUi, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Historv. March 1936 71 NEiunscll Van Rciis.sclaer

lo Elmer Bi.sstll. 6 April 1934. SBBG Ar

chives 72 Edward Van Ren.ssclacr. intervi

iViianic Ciatden. 8 (X'CcmK'r

.'ith author 18 Mav 200.3

73 Minutes. Blakslev Botanic Carden Admiiiisirativc Coiimmtcc. 29 Llccember 19,38

1944 35 Ervanna Bowen Bisscll (Mav 1930) 36 Paul Marshall Rea.

established in 1879 He speciali:cd in Calilornia natives. es|sccially native lilies Theodore Payne (1872-I%i) established a nurserv’ spccialiaing in

4 WWAV tain org/"hc.sh'shseasoiis-'SRCOHO[i'rhtml. Julv 2004 5 Elizabeth dc Loresr. lecture notes. 1975. SBBG Archives

9 A /aseimi 10 //lid

44 Carl Purdy (1 Hftl-1945) ran a nurscrv in Ukiali. Calilornia. which wa.s

The Blakslev Botanic Carden.

.\/iisfnm>

74 Minutes. Blakslev Botanis kianicn Administrative Committee. 6 Mav 19.37

ipuhlishcd historv ol tlie Blakslev E3oiamc Carden.

75 .Anmiui Repnt, Santa [larbara Musci

of Natural Historv. 19.34

NOTICIAS

58 76 Ervanna Bnwcn Bissdl to Maunicll Van Rcmsctacr. undated. SBBG Atchiws.

125 Maria Churchill. "The Landscaping Artisrry ol Lockwood dc horest."

A Iniifecirii (ugiicme 15(Spring 1995), 17

77 Rea, unpublished history of the Blaksicy Botanic Garden, 1936. SI5BG Archives.

126 Kcllam tie I'orcst. interview with author, 13 April 2005 127 Minute.'. Board of Trustees, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 14 Janu

78 Maunscll Van Rensselaer. "Summar>' of the Activities of the Blaksicy Botamc Gardci report to Board of Trustees, Santa Barbara Botanic

12K Mildred Bliss to ikatrix larrand. 16 September 1946.

Garden. 1 July 1936. SBIK'i Archive.'

79 Ervanna Bowen Bissell to Maunscll Van Rensselaer, undated. SBBG

129 McGuire iii liaunA J' onO' Famnd, 34 liOBalmori. McGuire,and MefVek. /katn.v/'<i>niiid's,4T7icnC£mLoniscjpes,

Archives,

ary 1944

186-187

(to Ervanna Bissell to Maunscll Van Rensselaer 28 0etoher 193,5 81 Minutes. Board of Trustees. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

13 April 1936 82 Mildred Bliss to the Board ol Trustees, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. 17September 1936.

131 .dmiujf hkpmr. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1‘M9 132 Minutes. Board of Trustees, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 8 April 1949 133 Beatrix I arrand resigned at DuraMrton (Xdts in 1947 and her friendship with Mildreil Bliss gradually came to a close There has been considerable

83 Atimu/Kfpoit.Sama Barbara Museum of Natural History. 1937.

speculation as to the causes of the deterioration in the once close relation

84 Van Rensselaer, "Summarv, " 1 July 1936.

85 Minutes, Board of Trustees. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 14 December 19.36

two wiimen growing apart Mildreti Bliss went on to create new things at

86 Maunscll Van Rensselaer to Beatrix Farrand, 24 January 1938

described bvvimeas "peppery" during this periixl. as age and grief for her

87 Maunscll Vhn Rensselaer to Peairix Iwrrand. 28 June 1938 88 Minutes. Board of Trustees. Santa Barbara Museum ot Natural History.

14 October 1938

dcecaseil husband and perhaps her lost Iriendship took ns toll

ship. and It -seems likely that the core issues may have been as simple as the /diim/urron <

such as the IVbbIc Garden with Ruth hlavcy Rartand was

Bliss did nc« ssffer Batrand assistaikx wiili Inxising her profcssiaial library tit papers(which ineliticd the papers of Gerttuk Jckyl!) and in the end. after the Red [flint \enturewa.s deemed a failure, 1-arraiul tumcil to UC Berkeley, where

89 Minutes, Blaksicy Bixanic Garden Administrative Committee, 29 Dcecmbcr 1938

iKr|W|Vrs remain to this day She soUl Reef Bunt and dismantled iIk gardens

90 Minutes, Board of Trustees.Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 13

there See jane Brown, l^’utrtx—Ifv Cjcmicning Lt[cnjBcatnx'jime^ Pitnuml

fkbnjaty 1939; Anmud

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1939.

91 Maunscll Van Rensselaer to Beatrix I'-arrand. 17 June 194!

92 Helen S Thorne. Loekwxxxi de Forest. Jr . and Ftcdcriek B Kcllam co William Lassiter. Mareli 1937, SBBG Archives 93 Mildred Bli

to Board of PTustccs, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural

Histors’. 17 September 1936

idpa-iysulNcwYork Vikingf’rc.ss. 199.5), 184-190, 199-201 134 Minutes. ICianl of Tru-srccs. Santa Barbara Ikitanic Garden. 10 Februar\’ 19-50 135 Katherine had joined the faeultv at Santa Ifarbara State College in 1943 on the Riviera, and continued as a faeultv mernher when it became the University ol California. Sanca Barbara College in 1944

During the

94 Beatrix Farrand to Mikited Blis.s. 9Januaty 1937

same [Kriixl. her husband Neil carried on wartime research for the US

95 Beatrix farrand to Mildred Bliss. 9 February 1937

Department of AgneuUurc in ofhecs at the Garden

96 Notti by Beatrix Farrand and Lockwood dc Forest, Jr., 12 March 1939

her [Xisition at the University in 1945, and Neil was offered the position

97 Ikatrix I'-arrand to Mildred Bliss. 17 April 1943

vacated by Katherine. A son, Robert Neil, was horn in 1946 See Nancy

Katherine resigned

98Anmid/ Reporr, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1946

Vivrettc. Wayne Ferten and Bruce Mahall. In Memoriain. Cornelius H

99.Annurif f(eporT, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1940 IOO Minutes. Board of Trustees. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 14 November

Muller. Uiiivcrsiiy of California. Biological Sciences Santa Barbara"" at

1940 and II June 1948. Eva Pritchett to Sellar Bullard. 29 Mav 1948

WWW dviiawcb oac ediib org-8088/dynawb/uchist/public/inmcnionum' innKmoriuml998'a>Gcnerie ]

101 " Report on Ncwl\- IHitehascd West Addition to Santa 13arbara Brnanie Gardens, ca 1940. SBBG Archives

136 Minutes, Board of Frustccs, Santa Barbai

Botanic Garden. 8 June

1950

102 Annuut Report. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. I'Hl

137 Ptcsiiient s Report co the Santa Barbara Boani of Trustees. 1952

103 -Armmll Report, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. l‘M8

138 ●Irinuiif Report. Sanca Barbara Botanic Garden. 1974

104 Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss. 22 September 1941.

139 Ralph Cornell co Sellar Bullard, 16 February 1950

10.5 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Putting Down Rixits. " 'Uk tmnuixxj2

(1908

l.aixiseaix- Architeecurc.

(Match-April 2001), 5

Ralph D Cornell

1972) ariendcd Rrmona College and Ffarvanl Graduate Sehcxrl of He was the 'Ui>crvising landscape architect at

UCI..A fnmi 1937 until his death, with plants that emphasized a California

106 AnmiLtl Rfp<y<-!. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1941 107 Maunscll Van Rensselaer to Mrs Charles Francis Saunders. 13 June 1941 108 Mildred Bliss to Beatrix Iwrrand. 6 November 1941

College. Torrey Pines State Park. Griffith Park, Los Angeles Music Center,

109 Beatrix [Errand to Mildred Bliss. 9 November 1941

and l.a Brea Far his His book. C'orLspicurncs Cufl/rrmur Pfutitstr irk -Vote.'

110 Ikatrix fhrrand. notes for the Santa Barbara Bexanic Garden. 11 December 1941 SBBG Archives

landscape He also worked at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Fkrinona

on i/rere Ijim/en Lse.s, was highly regarded 140 Blikicv iniervicw. 3 Januarv- 2003

111 Beatrix Farrand co Maunscll Van Rensselaer. 12 December 1941

141 Ralph Pliilbnck. interview with author, 30 October 2002

112 Beatrix Fitrand to Mildred Bliss, 5 February 1943, SBIKI Archives

142 .Animol Reptni.'. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1971 - 1981

113 Airntwl Rcpoit, Santa Barbara Botanic Garrlcn, 1950

143 Amnul Report, Santa Barb.tra Botanic Garden, 1966

114 Alexandra Cole, "Phase 1 Historical Report Library ami Auxiliary Build

144 Amiiiiti Ri'/x)it, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 1964 14.5 Dr Robert Muller, interview with author, 2 March 2003

ings, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, Calitornia,"" l-cbruary 2001, SBBG Archives

146 lliiil

115 Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss. 5 Februarv 1943. SBIKI Archives

147 Philbriek interview'. 30 October 2002

116 Beatrix larrand to Maunscll Van Rensselaer. 13 Match 1943

148 Amnul Report. Santa Barbara Brxanie Garden. 1976

117Lockwoodde Forest to Board of Trustees. Santa Barbara Ikuanic Garden.

149 Memo. Ralph Philbnek to Carol Bonistcin. Data Emery, and Lila Sexton,

13 Match 1943 118 Lockwood dc Forest to Ikatrix Farrand. 13March l‘M3

17 August 1984, SBBG rArehives 150 IhiJ

119 Beatrix Farrand to Loekwixxl dc Forest. 30 March 1943

1.51 -\iimul Re;x»t, Sanca Barbara Botanic Gaftlen. 1974

120 ikatrix Farrand co Mikited Bliss, 1 December 1943

1.52 David Young, email to author. 22 May 2003

121 Ikatrix farrand to Mildred Bliss, 3 EX'cembet 1943.

1.53 Aiimu! Re/xirt, Sanca Barbara Botanic Garden, 1989

122 Meeting notes, 22 December 1943, signed by l.ockwixxl dc Forest and Beatrix Farrand. SBBG Archives

1.54 Amnul Re/xiri, Sanca Barbara Botanic Garden, 1991

123 Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss. 28 July 1943 124 Diane Kostial McGuire. " Ikatrix latrands Comribuiioii lo the An of

156 Clenicnis lepers. 1926. SBBG Archives 1.V Ai ill Rt-jxirt Santa Barbara Museum ot Natural History. 1929

Landscape Atehitcetuie. " in Woirrix-J/ones/'amtidfiRpa -

"frors

oMmencunLundscjpcyl'v-fcirecturefWashingiim.D C Duinhanon Oaks.

Trustees for Harvard University), 47

15,5 Edward Schneider, email co auclxir. 5 April 2005

158 Ikatrix i arrand. report to the Board of Trustees, Santa Barbara Botamc Garden. 21"! Dcecmbci 1946. SBBG Archives

HE Santa Barbara Historical Society wishes to acknowledge the support of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden through a grant by the ^ . E. and Lillian Tipton Foundation

/ libisciis californicus Canipbcll Grant

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2005 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President

Leslie L. Hovey Edgar 1-. Sands Jo Beth Van Gelderen

1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Sccrccar\’

John W Hunt Jean Smith Goodrich

Robin Schutte

Richard Glenn

Glen W Adams Daniel Alcf Leslie S. Bernstein

Jon S. Bull Elizabeth H. Edwards

Lawrence T Hammett

Frank T Stevens

Betsy Lewis Thad C. MacMillan Tom Mielko

Stelani Taliaferro James Vitanza Diane M. Waterhouse

Jane Rich Mueller Cieorge M. Andcrjack. Executive Director David S. Bisol, Curator/Assistant Director

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS - 2004 COLLECTORS SERIES The Santa Barbara Historical Society wishes to thank and to acknowledge with pride the lollowing members and institutions for their most generous contributions to the 2004 Collectors Series.-

Patrons Philip & Leslie Bernstein Gordon & Constance Fish Donn L. Miller Jane Rich Mueller Donald &Jo Beth Van Gelderen

Beneiactors

Claudia E. Taden Robin & Stelani Taliaferro Hugh & Marv Thorson Eleanor Van Cott Ivano Paolo Vit Elizabeth S. Youker

Sponsors Jerry & Helene Beaver

Ernest & Gay Bryant Marjorie Chancy Robert A. Chick Charles & Patricia deck Jean Smith Gotxlrich Tliomas & Eleanor Harriman Harry & Leslie Hovey Richard E. Hughes John & Josephine Hunter Josiah & Karen Jenkins Michael & Betsv Lewis Tom & Eileen Mielko Lord & Lady Ridlcy-Trcc Bruce & Barbara Rogers Scollin Ruth Btooks Scollin Barbara W Spaulding Edward & Elaine Stepanek

Dora B. Bradley John & Patricia Broome Eugene & Ruth Ellis Robert & Nancyann Failing Ronald & Terry Foil Barbara Ingram Colleen Kirst Frances D. Larkin Frank & Katharine Miller Donald & Jane Patterson C. William & Nanev Schlosscr Richard & Robin Schutte L. David & Patricia Tisdale Flubcrc & Susan Vos Marie M. Wuigeman Ralph & Diane Waterhouse C. K. & Marv Williams

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2004 Major Contributors The Sanca Barbara Historical Society wishes to thank and to acknowledge with pride the following individuals and institutions for their generous contributions in 2004.

GRAND PATRONS ($25,000 and above) Lawrence & Asirid Hammett The Ann Jackson Foundation Santa Barbara Foundation Smith-Walker Foundation Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation Jo Beth Van Gclderen Wood-CIaeyssens E'oundation

F Michael Rogers The RonJ Foundation Frank Schipper Construction Company Robin & Richard Schutic Ruth Brooks Scollin Starbuck, Tisdale & Associates Robin & Stefani Taliaferni Hubert & Susan Vos The Wrathcr l^mily Foundation Elizabeth S. Youkcr

PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE ($10,000 to $24,999) Virginia L. Gardner C. Wiliam & Nancy Schlosser MAJOR BENEFACTORS ($5,000 to $9,999) VK,Atkins, Jr. Benjamin & Ruth Hammett Gary & Anna Nett Margo Osherenko Edgar & Janet Sands Tenet Healthcare Foundation Tlie Towbes Foundation PATRONS ($1,000 to $4,999) Andrew Murray Winery Claire Ann Arnold Au Bon Climac Winery Philip & Leslie Bernstein Keith Berry Robin 6d Denise Bicker WIcy & Susanne Blair Paul & Margaret Blasingame Louise Duque Brant Ernest & Gloria Bryant Jon & Martha Bull Robert A. Chick Charles & Patricia CIcck Charles & Emma Covarrubias Roy E. Crummer Foundation Ellen Easton Roy & Elizabeth Edwards Gary & ftggy Finefrock Gordon & Constance Fish TTiomas & Eleanor Harriman Hazel Heath Horton Pliilanthropic Trust Preston & Maurine Hotchkiss Harry 6; Leslie Hovey John & Josephine Hunter Chec Johnson La Arcada Investment Corporation Michael & Betsy Lewis Thad 6; Laurie MacMillan Tom & Eileen Mielko Donn L. Miller Jane Rich Mueller Myers Family Foundation Nett & Champion Insurance Scrs'iccs ftrcgrinc Galleries James & Marlene Vitanza Noel & Claire Perry Lord & Lady Ridley-Tree Jeanne Rodwcll

BENEFACTORS ($500 to $999) Kathryn O Alexander Robert & Sally Arthur Gary Dreitweiser Bonnie Burgess Janice Ogden Carpenter Annette Carrel R J. Carroll & Sons R. Wesley & Doris Carter Tlie Caughey Foundation Center for Studies of the Future Marjorie Chaney Micliael Cowan Janet Milligan Crary R. M. Sl Ann Edmonston Eugene & Ruth Ellis Donald & Susan Fuhrer Garden Club ol Santa Barbara Priscilla K. Giesen Jean Smith Goodrich Richard E. Hughes Dcrk & Fredericka Hunter Eric P. Hvolbnll Josiah & Karen Jenkins Philip & Colleen Kirst Mary Jane Leone Carrie Belle McFie Frank 6i Sheila McGinity Warren Si Marlene Miller Robert & Valerie Montgomery John & Kathy Mo.seley Joanna Newton Nuveen Investments, Inc. James & Stanya Owen Austin & Carolyn Amory lYck Dt>rothy Russell Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Bruce & Barbara Scollin Seed Mackall LLP Teresa W Siebert Kenny & Elizabeth Slaughc Barbara Spaulding Mack & Judith Stanton Edward & Elaine Stepanek Frank & Kay Stevens Stephen & Nancy Sy«>n Hugh & Mary Tliorson Eleanor Van Cott Ivano Paolo Mt Ralph 6; Diane Waterhou.se Stuart H Watling Joseph & Patricia Yzurdiaga

SroNSORS ($250 to $499) Demctri E Argyropoulos Michael & Betty Bagdasarian J. W 5d Marjorie Bailey i^trick 6; Ruth Beach Jerry & Helene Beaver Robert & Sally Beckham Walter & Gail Bcust Mario & Marguerite Borgatello Dora B. Bradley Kathleen Brewster John & Patricia Broome Timothy & Lani Meanicy Collins Community West Bank Oswald J. Da Ros The Dehlscn Foundation Don & Catherine Dishion George & Jane Eagleton Edwards-Rtman Architects El Encanto Hotel & Garden Milas Robert & Nancyann Failing Charles W Fairbanks Frank & Elizabeth Lee Ferry Ronald & Terry Foil William & Karen Gallivan Richard & Kay Glenn Rodney & Betty Guilfoil Phyllis A. Haskell Ray & Diane Hester Barbara D. Ingram Italian Government Cultural Of5ce Ellen G. Keetcr Ann Koep6i Korpinen-Erickson, Inc. Frances D. Larkin Jean T Leonard William & Kristin Ltwmis MacF^rlane. Faletti, & Co. Marborg Industries Keith J. Mautino Richard & Marilyn McCook Roland & Dolores Messori Frank R. Miller Daphne Moore Wiliam & Sandra Nicholson Donald & Jane Patterson Jack L. Perrin John &: Harriet Rtman James & Jodie Rea Christopher & Wendy Rctmolds Dorothy Roberts Timothy & Pamela Rogers Arcnt & Jean Schuyler Molly M. Smith Joseph & Jean Stevens L. Da\id & Patricia Tisdale Wiliam & Barbara Tomicki Tony & Nancy V»''all Marie M. Wangeman Washington Mutual Bank Albert & Cicely Wheclon C. K. & Mary Williams Wiliam & Barbara WxxJs James & Mar.sha Wooster

Non-Pro5C Organization U-S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara California Permit No. 534

NOTICIAS Quarterly Magazine of the Santa Barbara Historical Society 136 E. De la Guerra Street Santa Barbara, California 93101

Address Service Requested

CONTENTS Pg 1: A Garden for All Time: Tlic Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1926-2005