73. The Art Nouveau of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Thank you Patrick S. Larkin RSABG plarkin@rsabg.org
Editor's Notes
In 1926 Mrs. Bryant wrote to Dr. Charles Sprague of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum: “It has always seemed rather a pity to me that the most complete collection of our CA Natives is at Kew Gardens aand not in our own State. On my Santa Ana Canyon Ranch, in the foothills between Los Angeles and Riverside, I am hoping to develop and arboretum (the vary word at the present seems too important a one to use however).” At this time she had set aside 165 acres.In reply, Dr. Sargent cautioned her to “reduce the size of your arboretum as such to an area large enough to contain only the plants which could grow in your region without irrigation. This would mean an arboretum of less than 50 acres. It would take you several years to collect the plants which could be grown in it but once collected they would not require much care…Everyone interested in plants visiting CA would visit it and your reputation as a useful and public-spirtited citizen would be assured forever.”Mrs. Bryant shot back: “In the traditional feminine manner I am going to compromise by going ahead with my original scheme.”
