- Author: Edie Warkentine
During a February work party at the ESVC, we noticed that the roses were already beginning to bloom. That signaled “time to prune!” Accordingly, at our next work party, four Master Gardeners took the first steps at training and feeding the roses that line the entry at the ESVC.
The ESVC entry was designed to promote an arbor of yellow climbing roses. A rose was planted at the base of each of the four pillars. Over the years, the roses have grown, but due to the Covid-19 shutdown and other circumstances, they had not been trained. At our work party, each Master Gardener worked on one of the four roses, and pruned to promote growth up and over the arbor. Where possible, branches were draped over the arbor. Pruning was designed to open the center of the rose and encourage upward growth, with an emphasis on no more than 3-4 major canes for each plant. We finished the day with fertilizer and a good soaking. Two Master Gardeners returned the following week to complete the pruning and training efforts.
Less than two months later, the results of our efforts were apparent. Lush cascades of yellow blooms greet visitors to the ESVC. Some of the roses have started to spread on the overhead arbor. We have removed the grasses that were invading the water wells at the bottom of each plant and fertilized again. Only time will tell whether the roses will have a second and even a third bloom this season. By next year, with additional growth, training, pruning, and feeding, we anticipate an even more spectacular display of roses.
- Author: Dustin Blakey
Here are some photos from the beginning of this project. Looking back at these images is a great way to gauge our progress.
- Author: Edie Warkentine
About the Site
The garden was planted in three distinct zones, representing the areas attracting visitors to the visitors' center: (1) the Mojave Desert, (2) the Owens Valley, and (3) the Sierra Foothills.
Soil was amended to provide appropriate habitat for the three types of plants: (1) Type I (Mojave Desert) 60% Topsoil – 40% sand; (2) Type II (Owens Valley) Ripped. 100% Topsoil (3) Type III (Sierra Foothills): 50% Topsoil – 30% sand, 20% Decomposed granite.
A plant list was developed in consultation with the Inyo National Forest botanists. See attached documents below.
Garden Plans
These are photographs of the original documents detailing the site's plans.
Plant List 1
Plant List 2
Plant List 3
- Author: Dustin Blakey
The volunteers have been hard at work on the visitor center project. Recently the group did some much needed pruning.
Here are some photos of the day's efforts.
The original interpretative plan for the garden included:
- Developing a brochure providing the visitor with basic orientation and interpretation of the garden and encouragement to visit the garden.
- A mural on the back of the restroom building, featuring some of the native plants in the garden and the relationships of these plants with insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and the importance of these plants to the various cultures that have inhabited the Great Basin.
- Interpretive panels to provide visitors with some basic concepts that apply to all native plant species like pollination and water saving strategies.
- Garden tours when time and staff allow.
- Creating special events centered around the garden.
- Using the garden as a focal point for lectures, programs on growing native plants as well as the arts. Using arts to interpret the garden.
This plan remains a great vision for the future and a challenge to the ESVC staff and Master Gardener volunteers. Due to changes in technology over the past ten years, in lieu of a paper brochure, the Master Gardeners will be hosting information about the plants on its website, available to the public. Information about the garden and the plants will posted on the Master Gardener's website and linked through QR codes accessible on visitors' cell phones.