In 1987, Jocelyn’s friend Anne purchased a house in San Francisco’s Noe Valley. Her dream of an urban garden orchard came true when she found this home in a quiet neighborhood. She studied fruit trees, took classes at UC Davis, joined the California Rare Fruit Tree Growers and became quite the expert. However, some 30 years later she became ill and the garden went to ruin. Jocelyn explained the significance of the garden to the executor of the estate who agreed it was a worthy project to restore. Jocelyn approached a variety of colleagues with special skills to be part of the project to restore and revitalize the urban oasis. They began cleaning up invasive weeds, pruning the seven main orchard trees, restoring the soil and designing a completely accessible site including three outdoor rooms for lounging, a California native meadow, added new plants to complement the overstory orchard, a pond to catch and disseminate runoff from an adjoining property and of course nurtured the focal point fruit trees. The marvelous crew included Alma Hecht of Second Nature Design Certified APLD Designer; Takashi Ortega and his assistant Danny landscapers; Jacob McNeil of Oakland Aesthetics Certified Arborist; Maggie Hoppe Certified Aesthetic Pruner and fine gardener; Patricia Roberts and Melinda Hess assistants with all manner of details and tasks.
