The Garden...

The Boeschen Vineyards gardens present a magical opportunity to step back in time.  Master Gardener Susan has redesigned the grounds to create the feel of a garden that might have been planted at the time the house was built, in the late 1800's, and has saved the old plantings and trees whenever possible. The gardens have something of fragrance in bloom at all times, and the structures of that original era have been incorporated throughout the estate.

The Rose Garden

The formal boxwood-edged rose garden, with fountain and rose- and clematis-covered iron arches, is reminiscent of those popular in the 1880’s and 1890’s in both the U.S. and Europe. The roses are planted in color blocks, the popular method of the era. Most of the roses in the formal garden are floribunda, hybrid tea and shrub roses. Old garden roses and grandifloras are planted throughout the grounds. There are approximately 250 roses of over 70 different varieties, including 75 white Iceberg roses that were planted when daughter Laura was married in the gardens in 2003.

The Lady Banks Rose

An arborist estimates this amazing Rosa Banksiae banksiae (White Lady Banks' Rose) is approximately 120 to 150 years old.  This species of rose was first introduced in 1807 and is a thornless, double, white, evergreen rose. It devours the arbor, covers an old apple tree, and climbs 60 feet or more up a pine tree.  It's a glorious sight in March and April when covered with masses of fragrant white blooms.

The Greenhouse

The Lord and Burnham greenhouse has been carefully restored to retain its original appearance circa 1920 when constructed by J.B. Landfield for his Russian princess wife, Louba.  Mr. Landfield and his friend Mr. Crocker (founder of Crocker Bank) liked to spend their weekends partying with their male friends at the Bohemian Club.  To keep their wives occupied in their absence, Mr. Landfield built the greenhouse as a gift for Louba.  After World War II, the greenhouse was used as part of a commercial camellia nursery.  The chimney and cast iron pipe racks are all that is left of a below-ground boiler heating system for the greenhouse and attached hot bed.  The structure is reportedly the oldest metal frame greenhouse on the west coast.