Photos by Brian Addison.
Walking through a garden can be a meditative, serene and grounding experience, helping the strolling individual to better connect with the earth and with his or her own mind and soul. Imagine walking through a historic garden, one that tells the historical tale of the people that once tended to its plants, that once walked its pathways with the same need to be immersed in nature. Imagine being able to lead a tour and have a conversation with like-minded and curious visitors at Rancho Los Cerritos.
According to Rancho Los Cerritos, John Temple first planted the formal gardens in the 1840s and 50s, which were tended to by Native Americans, who would haul buckets of water from the river to satisfy the thirst of each bed. The Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to become garden docents, in an effort to help impart the rich history of how the garden has evolved since the 1850s.
“We share the history and the stories of the plants in our gardens so that visitors develop a deeper understanding of the site, and the people who lived here, ”explained staff horticulturist Marie Barnidge-McIntyre in a statement.
Rancho Los Cerritos, home to a 171 year old two story Monterey-style adobe, is preserved and maintained by the Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that relies upon its volunteers to connect the site and its history to the surrounding community, as well as with visitors from around the world.
To learn more about the Rancho’s garden history, click here.
Training will begin on Friday, February 20 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM and continue on Friday mornings through March 20.Those interested in attending should RSVP by calling (562) 206-2040 or email the Rancho’s volunteer coordinator, Jen Shafer, at [email protected].
Rancho Los Cerritos is located at 4600 Virginia Rd.