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Category Archives: grand lake / lake merritt
“One of the largest roof gardens in the world…”
I visited the Kaiser Roof Garden yesterday under gorgeous sunny conditions, so I feel a little sheepish sharing this while the next two days are forecast for thunderstorm gloom, but this is a lovely spot to visit, even in the rain.
Perched atop the parking garage for Kaiser Center (300 Lakeside Drive), this garden is a one of Oaktown’s secret gems. I first discovered it several years ago when hired to shoot a wedding here… it struck me as a particularly urban setting for a wedding – very Oaktown appropriate – lush green landscaping giving way to towering skyscrapers beyond. Very cool.
On the left below, you can see the greenery peeking from the edge of the parking garage’s roof (with the Cathedral of Christ the Light in the distance). Right side pictures the 28-story Kaiser Center building viewed from the garden.
The Kaiser building was built in 1960. At that time it was Oakland’s tallest building, and the largest office tower west of the Rocky Mountains. The building was the home for Kaiser Industries, a large Fortune 500 company headed by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, known as the father of American shipbuilding. (Wikipedia)
In the 40’s, his Kaiser Shipyard located in Richmond California produced “Liberty” cargo ships for WWII; utilizing mass production techniques, a new ship was churned out every 45 days. He went on to form Kaiser Aluminum, Kaiser Steel, and eventually Kaiser Permanente health care for his workers and their families, which by the 1990 was the country’s largest non-profit HMO. (Wikipedia)
Kaiser was known as a man of incredible ambition, famous for wanting to make things bigger, better, faster. You’ll pass a historical display chronicling his life and work on the 2nd floor of the Kaiser Center on your way to the parking garage. According to one of the panels, after hours of deliberation during development planning, all parties had finally agreed on the size the new Kaiser Center to be built. Kaiser responded by simply saying, “Double it.” And they did.
He also orchestrated installation of the roof garden despite unanimous disapproval by his upper management team. Rumor has it he did so, because he resided in a penthouse apartment on the 28th floor of the Kaiser Center, and wanted to have a view of a lovely garden rather than a concrete roof. But according the architect who actually designed the garden, Theodore Osmundson (who later wrote one of the definitive books on rooftop gardens, Roof Gardens: History, Design, & Construction), the garden was conceived by Henry J. Kaiser’s son, Edgar.
Here is the view as the elevator delivers you to the top of the parking garage…
The garden comprises over 3 acres with 42 species of mature trees, expansive lawns, and smaller plantings, a large reflecting pool with fountains, a wooden bridge, a numerous walkways and benches. The primary challenges in developing the garden were drainage and weight. Drainage is provided across the sloped roof, through the use of downspouts which run through the 5 stories of parking spaces to a storm sewer in the basement. The heavy loads of mature trees were placed directly over support columns running through the garage. All of the trees chosen (olive, holly oak, japanese maple, and southern magnolia) have fibrous root systems, which I suppose makes them well suited for a shallower planting.
This dedication plaque states that “The beauty and grace of the Kaiser Center Roof Garden is a tribute to Tony Flood’s thirty years of love and dedication as a gardener. (April 30, 1991)” I’ve been unable to locate any info on Tony Flood. Please send comments if you have some…
Finally, there are a series of large scale black and white photographs hanging in the lobby you can access from the garden. Here is an aerial photo I particularly liked; it shows the rooftop garden in the foreground, Lake Merritt and the lovely Lakeside Park Gardens behind…
Earth Day Fun in Oaktown!
Hey everybody… it’s the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, though truth be told, she’s actually more like 4 billion, but you know how it is… after a certain age, we just stop counting!
Here’s a list of fun ways to get involved…
-
Arroyo Viejo Creek Keeper Work Day
Sat., April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
510-632-9525
Creek habitat restoration for Earth Day. Bring your gardening gloves and meet at the Oakland Zoo’s entrance to the Arroyo Viejo Creek at 10:00am. Creek Clean Up participants will receive a complimentary ticket to the Earth Day festivities.
Oakland Zoo 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland (map) -
Earth Day Celebration at Oakland Zoo
Sat., April 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
510-632-9525
With more than fifty earth stations, displays, and demonstrations. Includes a giant Earth Ball and recycling info. Free w/ regular admission to Zoo.
Oakland Zoo 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland (map) - Oakland Earth Day 2010
Sat., April 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
510-535-5635
With community planting, organic cooking demos, tiny tot basketball, Youth in Motion dance workshops, adult softball, an open computer lab, and a summer camp kickoff. free
Allendale Recreation Center 3711 Suter St., Oakland (map) - Habitat for Humanity East Bay Earth Day Build-A-Thon
April 17-20, 7am – 5pm daily
The Earth Day Build-A-Thon is Habitat for Humanity East Bay’s annual celebration of green building. Participants will frame 10 homes in 4 days at the Tassafaronga development in Oakland. free, but you must register and you must fund-raise. Details here. Gene from Our Oakland is participating. Here’s his donation page, and a link to a nice write-up about the recent Oakland Earth Expo.
Tassafaronga Recreation Center 1025 81st Ave., Oakland (map) - Hands On Bay Area Workday, Lakeside Park Gardens
April 17, 10am – 1pm
Volunteers from HOBA will be coming to the Gardens to celebrate Earth Day. We’ll be working from 10am to 1pm in the Sensory Garden and the Torii Gate Garden. free. To register, please click here.
666 Bellevue, Oakland (map) - Earth Day at Morcom Rose Garden
Sat April 17, 9am – 1pm
Come join us for a garden clean up, and preparing the garden for the first flush of the season! free
700 Jean Street, Oakland (map) - Click EarthDay2010 in Oakland for detailed document listing over 75 volunteer opportunities throughout Oakland…
to clean, paint, plant and more at local schools, parks, and community centers. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools, gloves, hat, and sunscreen.
FEATURED LOCATIONS:- Redondo Park – meet at Hardy Circle
- Morcom Rose Garden (listed above)
- Lake Merritt Boathouse – 568 Bellevue Ave
- Sausal Creek at Dimond Recreation Center – 3860 Hanly Rd
- Peralta Hacienda Historical Park – 2456 34th Ave
- Arroyo Viejo Park and Arroyo Viejo Creek – 7701 Krause Ave
- Knowland Park at Oakland Zoo (listed above)
- What Now America/KIPP Bridge School – 14th St @ Market
A rose is a rose is a rose.
That famous quote by Gertrude Stein may make sense to many, but to true rose lovers and connoisseurs, I’m sure it couldn’t be further from the truth. You’ll find many of these folks, and many more roses, at the Morcom Rose Garden on Jean Street just off of Grand Avenue. Have you been there? It’s a real Oaktown gem, established over 80 years ago and still going strong!
I stopped by the garden yesterday and have to tell you that, while still beautiful and serene, it is not the prime time to visit this garden. Some early bloomers are already strutting their stuff (mostly climbing roses, pictured below), but the real show won’t happen for another month or so (see buds in following picture). The place should be exploding in May & June.
The garden, formerly known as the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses, “was constructed in 1932 as a project of the Works Progress Administration. It was named in honor of former Oakland mayor Fred N. Morcom. As well as thousands of roses, the garden features winding walkways, a reflecting pool, and a cascading fountain. The garden is available for weddings and can hold up to 200 people.” (Wikipedia)
My pictures do not do this garden justice due to the cloudy day on which I visited, and the lack of blooms. Here are some more exciting photos to pique your interest…
Pictured above are some of the garden’s volunteer force. They call themselves Dedicated Deadheaders (anyone familiar with gardening will know the term “deadheading” which is a pruning technique to remove spent flowers and spur the growth of new ones). Anyone can volunteer on the 2nd Saturday and 1st Wednesday of every month (9am to 1pm), but you’ll have to clock a certain number of hours before you get one of their groovy Grateful Dead inspired tie-dyed vests.
There’s a special volunteer workday this Saturday, April 17th in honor of Earth Day…. same hours 9am to 1pm.
Though the garden is small, it’s chock full of an incredible variety of roses laid out in a very traditional architectural arrangement for rose gardens of its period. One of the volunteers told me the technical term for one of the large clusters of plantings in a circular arrangement of geometrically shaped beds, but I’m blanking on the word right now. When I said “huh?” he said “the head of the lollipop.” Oh. I see.
Throughout the garden are lovely shaded walkways, plenty of benches for resting, and gorgeous stone steps that will take you to incredible views from above. The park is also surrounded by a small native plant buffer that provides habitat for a wide variety of birds (the songs were wonderful) and other critters. Check out this wild turkey who decided to dip his toes (claws?) in the reflecting pool!
The garden is currently competing to be dubbed “America’s Best Rose Garden.” Here’s a brief message about the contest and a link to vote. There’s money and prestige for Oaktown at stake! Please visit the garden and cast your vote…
Dear Bay Area Friends,
As you know, one of my special loves is the Morcom Rose Garden. Over the last couple of years the talent, experience and vision of a committed City gardener, Tora Rocha, has stimulated a resurgence of volunteers, programs and regular maintenance so that the garden, now certified as an AARS garden (All-American Rose Selection) is earning recognition.
We’re competing to be America’s Best Rose Garden for 2010, so that’s where you come in. The contest has several steps but the first one is to get a lot of votes. The ten gardens that get the largest number of individual votes will be finalists. Then a panel of experts will come to review and judge the gardens. The ultimate winner will receive $2500 and become part of the AARS publicity campaign.
And Please vote for us in The AARS’s Contest ” Americas Best Rose Garden” We are in the running and could win some very needed money and publicity.
Thank you,
Mary Ellen Navas
All-American Rose Selections’ (AARS) “America’s Best Rose Garden” competition is a national competition to find the best public rose gardens in America. The voting officially starts on April 1st, 2010 and closes July 1st, 2010. Communities across America can vote for their favorite local garden.
Vote now and vote for Oakland, California’s Morcom Rose Garden
http://www.rose.org/voteform/
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