Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens

Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens

Dunsmuir City Park and Botanical Gardens is a 10-acre municipal park and botanical garden maintained by Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3)organization of volunteers within Dunsmuir City Park in the city of Dunsmuir, California near Mount Shasta.[1] The Gardens are on City of Dunsmuir property under the general control of Siskiyou County via the Board of Directors of the Dunsmuir Park & Recreation District.

Gardens

Rhododendron stenopetalum specimen

The Botanical Gardens encompass about ten acres of a hilly, wooded area with a meadow, a playground area, and picnic sites bordering the beautiful Upper Sacramento River. Native white dogwood is prolific in the park and provides a glorious show in the spring. Unique to this area are many Shasta lilies growing on the hillsides and the beautiful, fragrant native azaleas that grow along the river. In addition to the many beautiful native species, a variety of other perennial plants and shrubs have been introduced. These include rhododendrons, hostas, ferns and Japanese maples. During the spring and summer, various annuals greet visitors with a rainbow of colors.[2]

Numerous walking trails meander through the park, allowing good viewing of the native and introduced plant material. The Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens enhance the natural setting and provide a tranquil environment for visitors. The meadow is the venue for the 'Tribute to the Trees' concert, and other events throughout the year.

Events

The Gardens host many weddings, concerts and group picnics. Each summer, in the annual Tribute To the Trees concert, The Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra presents an outdoor dinner concert on the concert bowl lawns along the gorgeous upper Sacramento River. Tickets can be obtained for the program through the Chamber of Commerce and local merchants, the concert is a benefit for this gorgeous park. Member-donors from all over California, Oregon and Arizona, attend the concert. Educational programs included the Elder Hostel's Road Scholars program for Grandparents and Grandchildren and river education programs hosted by the River Exchange.

Fishing

Trout fishing is allowed off season year around on a catch and release basis, but you can take home your catch beginning on the last Saturday in April through the end of summer. Up river of Scarlett Avenue bridge, fishing is catch-and-release year around. The use of barbless hooks is recommended by California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Animals

River otters are often seen in this park, where the infamous Cantara Loop trail derailment and chemical spill once sterilized this section of the river—but fortunately, the area upstream from the spill gradually restored much of the river's biosphere, and the fishery is very healthy, though crayfish and frogs have yet to reappear. Mink, cougar, bear, fisher and martin are sometimes in the immediate area.

Babe Ruth

New York Yankees Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel played an exhibition baseball game in the park, against the Dunsmuir locals. The original grandstand was recently repaired and reprinted after suffering damage in a winter storm. There is a Lions Club plaque commemorating the event outside the grandstand.[3]

Southern Pacific Locomotive #1727

Locomotive 1727 is a class M-6 Mogul built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1901. It served Southern Pacific in California and Oregon until 1956. 1727 is one of only 7 Mogul engines surviving today out of 355 originally built.

Management and Funding

The Botanical Garden's Horticulturist is Candace Miller, who is seeing to the accession catalog work and overseeing the park staff. The Park is dependent upon contributions and grants. The address for the park is PO Box 242, Dunsmuir California. http://www.dunsmuirbotanicalgardens.org

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens.

References

  1. ↑ "Facilities at Dunsmuir Recreation & Parks". Retrieved 29 January 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  2. ↑ "Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens"http://www.dunsmuirbotanicalgardens.org/index.html
  3. ↑ DP&RD "History" http://www.dunsmuirparks.org/history.html

Coordinates: 41°08′N 122°10′W / 41.14°N 122.16°W / 41.14; -122.16

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