This archive holds information published about the BUTTERFLY & HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN in the early planning and development stages.

A History of the Garden:

Ohlone Audubon Society has embarked on a project to establish a small Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden at Fremont’s Shinn Park to honor the memory of our friend and Ohlone Audubon Society activist, Bette Wentzel. As planned, the Recreation Commission, and then the City Council supported the Garden unanimously, handing over the project to Recreation Maintenance Administration. We regret to say that due to several time delaying factors, the Project is stalled for this year and our "In-this-Millennium Goal" is unobtainable. Nonetheless we are optimistic that we will find a way to develop the Garden in some reasonable time frame next year. The Committee is seeking to resolve a few nagging problems. We know the Garden is a "GO", in as much as the last three years of ground work have resulted in the production of complete blueprints for plans of the garden and its irrigation through the good wishes and skill of Richard Matsutani, Landscape Architect, the full cooperation and indeed partnership between OAS and the Heirloom Flowers Garden Club; and the establishment of a 14 member Garden Committee, who meet regularly to direct the project; A liaison has been established with the City of Fremont Recreation Department to develop procedures to produce and carry out a Contract Agreement.

RATIONALE/CRITERIA  FOR  ESTABLISHING  A  BETTE WENTZEL BUTTERFLY  &  HUMMINGBIRD  GARDEN  GAZEBO  AT  SHINN HISTORIC PARK AND ARBORETUM, FREMONT, ALA CO., CALIF.

*   AESTHETIC FOCUS POINT IN THIS GARDEN
*   ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION FOR SIGHT SEEING
*   ENHANCEMENT OF VICTORIAN THEME OF GARDEN AND HOME
*   FURTHER ESTABLISHES AND DEFINES THIS GARDEN WITHIN
    THE COMPLEX OF ALL THE OTHER SHINN GARDENS:  KATO
    JAPANESE GARDEN;  ADMIRAL SHINN GARDEN;  ROSE
    GARDEN;  CUTTING GARDEN;  VICTORIAN FLOWER GARDEN;
    HISTORIC TREES AND LAWN GARDEN;  ETC.
*   MORE ATTRACTIVE AS STAGING AREA (CITY MONETARY
    RESOURCE) FOR WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, CITY FAIRS OR
    CELEBRATIONS, COMMUNITY PICNICS, ETC.
*   CONTINUES THE IMPORTANT CULTURAL IMAGE BUILDING SO
    DESIRED BY THE FORWARD LOOKING CITY OF FREMONT
*   REFLECTS THE WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY (INDIVIDUAL AND
    ORGANIZATIONAL) INTEREST IN THE GARDEN SHOWN DURING
    ITS DEVELOPMENT
*   APPROVED BY THE SHINN FAMILY TRUST
*   MARKER FOR GARDEN SECTIONS, I.E., JUNCTURE OF FOUR
    GARDEN SECTIONS (GAZEBO NORTH, GAZEBO SOUTH, DRY
    CREEK AND REDWOOD)
*   CONVENIENT ELECTRICAL OUTLET FOR ACTIVITIES NEARBY,
    I.E., SPEAKER SYSTEMS, RECORDED MUSIC, MICROPHONES,
    SLIDE OR MOVIE PROJECTION,  BIRD CALL DEMONSTRATION,
    PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT, HEATING APPLIANCES, ETC.
*   PLACE TO PAUSE OR REST FOR GARDEN WALKERS OR
    WHEELCHAIR USERS
*   STAGING SPOT FOR SOCIAL TEAS OR SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
*   STRATEGIC WILDLIFE OR GARDEN FLOWERS PHOTO
    STOP/BLIND
*   COMPLIMENTS GARDEN AS A MODEL GARDEN FOR
    EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING OR
    DUPLICATING SUCH IN THEIR OWN YARDS OR COMMUNITIES;
    THUS ENCOURAGING INCORPORATION OF CONSERVATION
    ETHICS AND ELEMENTS IN THEIR OWN LIVES, I.E. GARDENS
    FOR BUTTERFLIES & HUMMINGBIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

Bette Wentzel Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Gazebo
Shinn Historic Park and Arboretum,
Fremont City Park
1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, Alameda Co., Calif.

GAZEBO  DESCRIPTION  AND  COST  ESTIMATE  PROPOSAL

Item:  Majestic Victorian Gazebo  12 Diameter  Modular Kit

Company: Amish Country Gazebos
      Ontario, Calif.
      Tel.: 1(800) 700-1777   Web Site:  http://www.amishgazebos.com**
      Delivery time:  3 - 4 weeks

Description: (Also see sample photographs**)

*   Form  -  Octagonal, diameter, 12 ft.
*   Tier  -  Single
*   Roof  -  Cedar shingle
*   Trellis  -  3+/- in.:
*   Floor  -  6 in.:   Optional  Cost: $925(Included)
*   Electrical (Package): Optional  Cost: $295(Included)
*   Const. Grade  -  Carpentry Grade
    (Twice kiln dried, straight eastern pine;
     galvanized anchoring, Natural Finish)
*   Victorian ("butterfly" adornments,  Optional  Cost: $1,000(Included)
     railing, cornicing, vertical posting, etc.):

Gazebo Kit (above total): Cost: $5,020
Shipping (w/ Floor):      Cost: $   500

Total Kit: Cost: $5,520

Installation Estimate - (Includes Cost: $2,000
cement form pad; ramp entrance;
electrical connections; volunteer
support):
In Place (Garden) Total: Cost: $7,520
PEG:peg  19 Feb.2002

Call Phil Gordon, 1922 Hillsdale Street, Hayward, Calif. 94541

1(510) 538-3550 or email: PAGPEG@aol.com
 
 

Members at the June pot luck were able to roam the Hummingbird/Butterfly section donated to the city by Ohlone Audubon Society, and see the progress made already. A devoted few, notably Phil Gordon, Howard Cogswell and Ron Barklow, have faithfully weeded and cultivated the grounds. They would welcome other plain dirt enthusiasts. Love flowers and gardening? Call or email Phil to join this dedicated group.

The following are the next steps to be completed:

1. Secure and store near site "mossy rocks" and 14 yards of planting soil

4. Rent and use grading and digging equipment for leveling and sloping area and structuring the planned steam bed

6. Set the water and electricity lines and hookups

7. Set gravel, cobbles and "mossy rocks" (boulders handled with chains and equipment)

8. Obtain plants as specified, to be stored near site 9. Dig and plant the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden The above steps will require volunteers and donation of various materials and equipment.

We are currently seeking volunteers who can do the following:

1. Run the backhoe and/or the front-loader

2. Help set up the water lines for irrigation

3. Help set up the electrical lines

4. General work during the hard-landscaping

5. Help move/set the boulders

6. Find or donate plants for the Garden. (Call for your copy of our Plant List**)

7. Eager to get into the dirt and do some planting

8. Assist with Raising the funds to replenish our $5,000 expense, including tax deductible donations

9. Join the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Committee (Call Phil for Committee List)

PLEASE CALL PHIL GORDON OR ANY COMMITTEE MEMBER IF YOU SEE WHERE YOU CAN GIVE ASSISTANCE. —send email to Phil Gordon or 1(510) 538-3550.

12 May 2000

Greetings Vi et al,

We have to meet to plan our Garden Dedication/Commemoration/Celebration. When would be a convenient time? We are due to be out there this morning for a Press Photographer to get some shots of flowers being planted.

I've tested the sprinkler system and couldn't get part of it to turn on. It does take an additional 9 volt Ni-Cad rechargeable battery (bought one yesterday), but I don't think that is the problem. We'll check all the ground valves and see what the problem is. Ron Kobata has to come out again to install the Gate Valve someday soon. He claims there is a valve up at the street, but will put in another closer to our Garden if we wish. There may be some dry spots (Richard says so) to also bring into the sprinkler system. Some plants are in and they are all placed - - looking good! We will be able to show what additional plants are needed and where they could go for donators.

We didn't spend all the budgeted plant money at Sierra Azul, so it still may be possible to add a few ourselves. We have to keep some funds out since their may be extraneous cost as yet, i.e. rocks and cobbles to add to the Dry Creek gravel.

Nice to hear that, although they didn't say it to me at the Garden Monday, the word to Chuck (from Larry Soto and Dick Sira) is that we passed the final inspection!

Off the top I think we could meet at the Garden for our Celebration planning session Monday morning. How about before lunch at 11:00am? I will be at the Garden this Sunday morning at about 10:00am for those who want to help in our Garden this weekend. Sometime, somewhere I think I said we would do this.

By the way we got our first 50 species at the Shinn Park on Monday with Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanager. On Tuesday 51 flew by as Forster's Tern called overhead. We will check the nesting Bushtits (including the new nest that Ron found) and the Anna's Hummingbird nest Phil found.

Happy Birding,

Regards,

Phil

9 May 2000

Greetings Shinn BUTTERFLY & HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN enthusiasts,

We have completed enough of the Garden construction to pass final inspection. Congratulations to all helpers!!

Yesterday Dick Sira (for Irrigation) and Larry Soto (for City) carried out their final inspection of our Garden with yours truly and commended us for a job well done. Their were a few contingencies, which are now being taken care of. First, we will establish the whereabouts of the main cut off (from the rest of the Garden) valve; second, send them the "as-built" map to new water lines and sprinklers; third, make a Directions to Watering each Station sheet to be fixed in the irrigation control box.

We also will complete the benderboard pathway to the house. Eva has moved the heirloom irises now that they have finished blooming. The green valve cover boxes will be raised to ground surface level. The scraped "vinca" dirt pile will be removed so we can plant the last strawberry tree and Ceanothus.

Best of all we can now commence planting our new 44, "unspecified", flower jewels in their various Garden sections. This will begin today, Tuesday and perhaps Thursday this week and maybe Sunday will be the weekend day for work. All of those who want to see what other flowers you might like to add to this selection and/or put them into the ground yourself should plan to join us soon! Regards,

Phil Gordon 1(510) 538-3550 PAGPEG@aol.com

P.S. Forrest we need to talk about how we get your Penstamens into the Garden; I'm looking forward to that!

You can see we are very close to plant selection, purchase and planting. Those who have offered to donate plants should contact me or the Ricciarellis again to see if this will be the stage when your plant(s) will be acceptable. Our Garden Blueprint (limited in completed "Gift to Fremont" value of $5000) includes the following plants: Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo, dwarf variety) Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii, "Black Night" var.) Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis) Red-flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum) Flowering Quince (Choenamales cameo, "Stanford Red" var.) Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica tomentella) Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium, "Orange Flame" var.) Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea, "Crimson", New Mexican var.) California Fuchsia (Epilobium [Zauschneria] californica) Verbena (Verbina bipinnatifida) Zinnia (Zinnea grandiflora)

The above can be planted during the first stage. If cost is below that which is expected, we may call for some additional plants before dedication.

We had a small photo ceremony on Saturday when Eva Ricciarelli presented to Ohlone representatives, Vi Saima-Barklow and Phil Gordon a $1000 gift with matched funds from Shell Oil Co. and Heirloom Flowers Garden Club. These funds will help defray the costs already incurred with the completed Irrigation system by Ron Kobata and his team of Irrigation Plumbing experts as well as the completed electrical system volunteered by Jim Wood.

We hope to re-negotiate a second phase of Garden enhancement at a later date; then other plantings and structures could be added.

Happy Birding (we had our first Allen's Hummingbird for the season, Saturday; and Rod Ricciarelli spotted a Morning Cloak Butterfly last week),

Regards,

Phil Gordon

Call if you want to be a volunteer for this.

For questions call Phil Gordon: 1(510) 538-3550 or email: PAGPEG@aol.com

Parking? call Rod Ricciarelli: 1(510) 656-7702

WHAT: OHLONE AUDUBON SOCIETY WITH FRIENDS OF HEIRLOOM FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF FREMONT

PRESENT A DEDICATION for a

DEMONSTRATION BUTTERFLY & HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN

WHEN: THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 8 JUNE 2000, 2 - 4PM

WHERE: SHINN HISTORICAL PARK AND ARBORETUM, 1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, Alameda County Route: From Mission Blvd. at Hwy 84 (Niles Cyn.) to Mowry Blvd., go 1/8 mile to Y , take Peralta (Hwy 84), then first right on Sydney, into Parking Lots. Enter grounds to 1878 Gingko tree and picnic tables.

FOR: RESIDENTS OF SOUTHERN ALAMEDA COUNTY AS A MEMORIAL TO BETTE WENTZEL, ATTY., WHO SERVED AS OAS PRESIDENT AND STRONGLY SUPPORTED OAS GOALS OF CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION

PROGRAM: PRESENTATION OF THE $5,000 GIFT ( THE GARDEN) BY OHLONE AUDUBON SOCIETY TO FREMONT CITY.

• INTRODUCTION OF DIGNITARIES AND SPEECHES
• PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION BY CITY OF FREMONT TO OHLONE AUDUBON SOCIETY
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS
• TOUR OF NEW BUTTERFLY & HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN
• CEREMONIAL PLANTING OF BLEEDING HEARTS
• REFRESHMENTS
• GIFT: PROGRAM NOTES INCLUDING COMPLETE LIST OF THE 38 PLANT SPECIES (108 specimens) in GARDEN