Partner Spotlight: Heritage Rose Garden
The Heritage Rose Garden is visited by the neighbor cat, Vinny.
Partner Spotlight: Heritage Rose Garden
Have you visited the Heritage Rose Garden (HRG) yet? This unique garden was created by Master Gardeners of Amador County, and is located at the C&C Ranch, an MLLT conserved property in Jackson. Here you will find a distinctive mix of old roses, California native plants, and heirloom plants that show visitors what can be achieved in their own gardens.
The HRG was established to fill an unmet need. Judy and Bob Dean’s extensive collection of heritage roses, many gathered from Mother Lode sites, came close to being destroyed by the Butte fire of 2015. Bob Dean approached the Master Gardeners with the idea of a “back-up” garden, accessible to the public so future generations can see the roses and learn their culture and history. These roses, many gathered from local pioneer cemeteries, old homesteads, and mining camps, are survivors, resisting drought, physical disturbances, neglect, and abuse. Along with California natives and other heirloom plants, they provide a living example of plants suited to the challenges of climate change and limited resources.
This mini-China rose was brought to California by covered wagon by Jesse Burns and Catherine Abbott in 1857. Catherine brought the rose with her from her family’s home in Arkansas before settling in Calaveras County.
The Master Gardeners now educate the public about these forgotten beauties while promoting sustainability and best gardening practices. The addition of natives and other pollinator plants makes the garden an even more effective teaching tool, by adding to biodiversity, sustainability, and year-round interest.
Narrow leaf milkweed is visited by a purple hairstreak butterfly at the Heritage Rose Garden.
Since opening in 2019, the HRG significantly expanded outreach by providing a space for classes, workshops, demonstrations, and open garden days. These totaled 24 in the last two years. In 2022, the garden had 841 visitors, and volunteers logged 2,122 hours. Master Gardeners offered classes on pollinators, pruning, pest management and natives. Attendees take away knowledge of declining pollinator populations, water conservation and soil health.
Interpretive tools were created to enhance the visitor experience. A hand constructed kiosk welcomes garden visitors at the entrance. Volunteers ensure that each plant is clearly labeled. A color brochure is available highlighting the history of each rose which enables visitors to tour the garden at their own pace. In addition to the print brochure, local high-school students created a narrated digital version as a mobile phone app to incorporate technology and enhance accessibility. A local Sacramento news station featured the garden on one of its episodes.
Many heritage roses are found abandoned on old homesites like this. Both yellow and white versions of the ‘Lady Banks’ rose are on display at the Heritage Rose Garden.
Each heritage rose has a story to tell. A rose in the Amador City Cemetery was weed-whacked to the ground after volunteers successfully cloned it. Two still unidentified old roses were saved from an old homestead property in Jackson as bulldozers arrived. Volunteers also received starts from a rose in Sutter Creek just before the owners doused it with weed killer. Now, with more than 70 heritage roses, other heirloom plants and numerous California natives, the community has a living piece of history to enjoy for years to come.
The garden is located at 1334 Jackson Gate Road in Jackson. Open garden days are every 3rd Saturday, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM from May through October. Volunteers will be on site to answer questions, give tours, and show off their projects.