Call Garden Restoration Project

 

      Mercedes Call resided in this house from 1872 to her death in 1933. She raised nine children, helped run the ranch, and had a garden of renowned beauty that was a tribute to her love of plants.  She was able to acquire seeds and cuttings from ships’ captains who bought lumber and supplies from the Calls. She also imported many plants from South America, including her native country, Chile. Her friend, Luther Burbank, shared his knowledge and plant starts with Mercedes. She was one of the earliest members of the American Fuchsia Society.

 

     Documents from the 1920’s suggested the plants she would have grown. The goal is to make the garden as accurate as possible, yet have an “unplanned” look that strives for color and fragrance, as it would have in that era.

 

     In April of 2001, community volunteers began the resurrection of Mercedes’ garden. It is now a “work in progress”. Volunteers meet every Monday from 10-noon and encourage gardeners of all skill level to spend a day of weeding, watering, planting and pruning. To see our garden and some of our dedicated garden volunteers click here. If interested, call Heidi at 707-847-3286.

 

To see the Call House Garden up close and  the interior of The Call House visit us during the first Saturday and Sunday of every month from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the afternoon. Read more about the Call Ranch Era.   To see a schedule of events at Fort Ross and other related parks click here.