Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is pleased to invite the public to attend a fruit tree restoration workshop on Saturday, February 4 at the Camden House with Certified Arborist/Horticulturist, Rico Montenegro. This workshop is hands-on and will focus on learning the tools and techniques needed to restore old and neglected trees. This is an opportunity to learn basic pruning techniques, then to begin to develop pruning skills through applying these techniques to select trees in the park’s historic orchards.
The Camden House resides within the Tower House Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It encompasses 20 acres and 16 structures and is home to 148 historic fruit trees. This area is significant because of the contributions of Levi Tower and Charles Camden in the development of commerce, transportation, agriculture, and industry in Northern California in the two decades following the discovery of gold in 1848. Levi Tower was famous for his orchards, gardens and his hotel. The landscape in this area was described as “oasis-like” and was a major attraction in its hayday. Tower planted the first peach trees north of Sacramento and was possibly the first person to experiment in the raising of fruit and berries in Shasta County. He planted more than 1,000 fruit trees around the Tower House. It was so famous a landmark that it appeared on county and state maps for over a century. Today, remnants of these lush gardens and orchards offer visitors a glimpse into the region’s past.
The pruning workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last about one hour. All activities will occur outside at the Camden House (weather permitting). After the workshop, participants will tour the orchard and have an opportunity to restore heirloom fruit trees until 2:00 p.m. Please come prepared with sturdy boots or footwear, long pants, water and snacks, and weather-appropriate clothing. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Rico Montenegro at ricosplants@hotmail.com or call 530-515-7657.
