With Julie Cain
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time (California)
Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco,
or register/join the meeting in progress on Zoom.
Program Description
Tucked away on the Stanford campus is the oldest succulent garden in the San Francisco Bay Area, a historical treasure unknown to most residents of the region. Designed by Rudolph Ulrich, working for the Stanford family, this is a relic of landscape gardening on the San Francisco Peninsula in the Gilded Age. Julie Cain has spent years delving into the history of the garden itself, as well as the broader context of garden design and landscaping concepts from the Victorian Era. When the Stanford Arizona Garden was created, the advent of rail connections between the East Coast and the “Wild West” had led to a surge of tourism and a fascination with the arid landscapes of the western states. One manifestation of this was the popularity of “Arizona gardens” that showcased the cacti, yuccas and agaves found in the dry West, which seemed so exotic to Easterners. The Stanford Arizona Garden is a prime example, and it is remarkable that it has endured all the way to the present day.
About our Speaker
Julie Cain is a historian who has worked at Stanford since 1978. She has been involved in restoring the Stanford Arizona Garden since 1998, and she is especially interested in the 19th century San Francisco estates that were established south of the city by wealthy families of the era, along with their landscapes and gardens. Her extensive research brings to life this fascinating chapter in California history.
Show & tell table: Asclepiads on the succulent side (from Hoyas to Stapeliads), and Parodia & Notocactus on the cactus side and anything else that’s looking good or in flower.
Featured grower: Troy Stephens
Snack table:, There will be a shared spread, but we suggest bringing something every couple of months if you partake regularly. As a thought, we are often short on drinks.
Covid precautions: We will keep doors open to ensure adequate ventilation. This can make the room a bit chilly, so dress appropriately.
Meeting Agenda
7:00 Mingling and announcements
7:30 Formal presentation starts promptly with Society business
7:35 Show and Tell Table
7:50 Leg stretch
7:55 Featured presentation
Watch Online
On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress.
Facebook simulcasts are on hold due to issue with Facebook’s connection to Zoom. We may switch to Youtube.
Upcoming Events
- Aug 20, 2024 – Meeting topic TBD