ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE
TOP LEFT: Double pink althea, a deciduous flowering shrub.
TOP RIGHT: Cramoise Superieur, a China rose introduced in 1832
may still be found in abandoned cemeteries and homesites in Texas.
BOTTOM LEFT: Climbing Lady Pamela, shown here on a trellis.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Close up view of Cramoise Superieur, thought
to have been given to Lorenzo de Zavala while he was at the Court of
St. Cloud in France serving as an ambassador from Texas
I
The .
Subject
Was Roses
by Dr. William C. Welch
gardenss are the beautiful old leatherbound
diaries, the treasured yellowed
letters, and the jeweled family albums
of our ancestors. The garden is and has
been an important part of the life, environment
and inheritance of the Texan.
Protecting the heritage of gardens is a
formidable task since gardens are made up
of living plant materials as well as fences,
walls and walks. They do not remain static,
tucked away in an old chest like the diaries,
letters and albums. They change. A few
hardy perennials, long-lived trees or shrubs
sometimes persist for years, providing us
clues to what was. Borders of spring and fall
flowering bulbs can reveal geometric
planting arrangements long forgotten.
Interest in garden history and restoration
has increased in recent years. Landscapes
surrounding homes such as Thomas
Jefferson's Monticello and George
Washington's Mount Vernon have been
restored to their original beauty and greatness
by experts using garden diaries and
archeological research. These gardens
were an integral part of the lives of the
families, friends, business associates and
workers who came into daily contact with
this important part of the built environment.
They remain as part of our American
heritage and are living examples of the
daily lives of our ancestors.
Since there are few written accounts of
early Texas gardens, I was pleased to learn
of an article by Adina de Zavala of San
Antonio describing her grandmother's
garden in detail. Adina, granddaughter of
Republic of Texas Vice President Lorenzo
de Zavala, was serving as president of the
Texas Historical and Landmarks Society in
1936, and was busy with the Centennial
celebration preparations. The garden
8 HERITAGE * SPRING 1989
