Bette Wentzel Memorial Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden
Garden Dedicated The Bette Wentzel Memorial Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden was officially dedicated Thursday, June 8, 2001. At the ceremony, held in the main house in Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum, Project Coordinator, Phil Gordon introduced Fremont city officials who accepted the garden. Bette's daughter, Karen, represented the Wentzel family. James Shinn represented his family. Eva Ricciarelli represented the Friends of Heirloom Flowers Garden Club, with which Ohlone Audubon Society has partnered in developing and maintaining the garden. Vi Saima-Barklow expressed the feelings of OAS. The garden was created to commem-orate the life of Bette Wentzel. She loved the adventure of exploring the natural world. As president of Ohlone Audubon Society, she concentrated on conservation and education issues. Thus, the garden is dedicated to present and future residents of southern Alameda County, for aesthetic enjoyment and educational uses. Landscape Architect, Richard Matsutani volunteered the design and supervised much of the work that went into placing rocks for the dry stream bed and pipes for the watering system. Rod and Eva Ricciarelli and other Friends of Heirloom Flowers have devoted many hours to developing and protecting the gardens of Shinn Park, including the Wentzel Garden. Ohlone and the Friends have contracted to maintain the garden. The Garden Committee and volunteers have earned our gratitude for the success of this project, as have donors of materials and services who will be acknowledged in future articles.
Lastest News from the Garden  Call for Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Work Party Dates
Greetings all Garden Enthusiasts and Task Providers, Garden News Our Garden needs your Help! The Bette Wentzel Memorial Butterfly and Hummingbird garden needs volunteers to help keep it weed-free and hummingbird and butterfly friendly. The garden is part of Fremont’s Shinn Historic Park and Arboretum. It is named for Bette Wentzel, who was President of Ohlone Audubon. All plants are selected for hummingbirds and/or butterflies. Friends of Heirloom Flowers Garden Club will team up with Ohlone Audubon garden volunteers for “Make a Difference Day” on Saturday, October 27, 2007, to highlight the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden. On the task day, meet at the Shinn Memorial Park and Arboretum at 10 a. m. (1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont). Tasks will include fall cleanup, weeding, mulching, and planting of wildlife friendly plant materials. The call is out for more zinnias in fall colors of red, copper, orange, yellow, and white for the Gazebo area. Bring tools, gloves, binoculars and a bag lunch for a picnic under the grand 1876-1880 trees. Meet our partners and talk “gardening secrets.” After chores, visit the six other gardens, the Sim Cottage, the Shinn Victorian Ranch House and possibly see many new wintering birds. Call Phil Gordon for more details. Happy Gardening and Birding (and Lepidoptering), Phil Gordon, Garden Coordinator, Education Committee Chair. Ohlone Audubon Society 1(510) 538-3550 PAGPEG@aol.com
Growing Bird List A new species (79 now) at our Bette Wentzel Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden at Shinn Park in Fremont was seen last Tuesday when a pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows appeared in the back parking area. He sat on the fence and watched her "walking" on the ground picking up and dropping twigs until just the correct one was found and away they flew to some tunnel or burrow to nest. Everyone is reminded to be on the lookout this summer for colonies of Cliff Swallows to include in our Scientific Cliff Swallow Nesting Project, started during our Swallow Festival. Keep a collection of Locations and Dates you observed them to turn over to the Team (whomever that may be). --Phil Update: At the Ohlone Audubon Society annual picnic on June 3, 2003, Akiko and Eugene Makishima observed the 80th garden bird siting with a Tree Swallow! Our list is growing!
22 February 2002 Greetings OAS Board Members, OAS Education Committee, and Garden Enthusiasts, Here then is the most recent finding with a Gazebo Modular Kit that looks perfect for the spot (on our original Matsutani blueprint plan) that is waiting to be used.  The Cost analysis was presented at the Ohlone Audubon Society Board Meeting last night, 19 Feb.  We find that a fund drive will be necessary to build up enough cash to accomplish our goal.  The Garden Club (Friends of Heirloom Flowers) has received grant money and is soliciting more.  The OAS will be conducting another Bird-A-Thon with funds coming in from that.  And all of you can help with fund raising ideas and actions.  Also included here is the set of Rationale and Criteria used to justify this expense.  We have yet to work out the logistics that will be required of the City to facilitate the Gift.  James Shinn will be soon examining the sample Gazebo to approve our choice.  Much needs to be done as you can see.  Discussion of the project will be at the next meeting of the OAS Education Committee (at my house, 4:30pm, Thursday, 28 Feb.).  A meeting will be scheduled of the original Garden Committee and other interested parties at the Sim Cottage sometime in March (probably at 4pm, Monday, 18 Mar.).  Contact me at Email: PAGPEG@aol.com or Tel.: 1(510) 538-3550. Regards,  Phil Gordon
P.S. The Butterfly Larval Host Plant Garden is now established - - come out and see our new planter boxes. We trust Aidan Ali-Sullivan will soon receive his Eagle Project Badge for the good work he completed. You will be invited to meet him (and his family) at the June OAS Potluck Picnic at the Garden.
Plant List Available P.S. We can supply a copy of the List of Plants Yet to be Added as well as a List of those Already Planted to the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden for those interested. We do not know if additional Dedication Programs are still available from the City since several requests have been made from those unable to attend. Contact the OAS Coordinator, Phil Gordon: 1(510) 538-3550 1922 Hillsdale Street, Hayward, CA 94541
CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLY AND HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN ATTRACTION FACTORS
Archive: A History of the Garden
Bette Wentzel Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Gazebo Shinn Historic Park and Arboretum, Fremont City Park 1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, Alameda Co., Calif. This page last updated on May 17, 2008
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