Donating Skills and Passion: Landscape Architect Sandra Reed Gives Back

By Kristie Nackord, Green Valley Consulting Engineers

The annual rose pruning gets underway.

Sandra Reed, chief landscape architect with Green Valley Consulting Engineers, redesigned and rehabilitated the once thriving gardens of the Historic Petaluma Train Depot in Petaluma, California. A passionate landscape architect and enthusiast of rose gardens, Ms. Reed decided that one of the best ways to showcase the garden and highlight the surrounding luscious landscape of the North Bay was to create a traditional rose garden that includes over 250 rose bushes. In addition, each year she donates time for onsite informative rose pruning demonstrations.

Train stations are some of the earliest civic pieces of architecture found within the United States. Dating back to the 19th century, train stations became a place where elaborate gardens were developed and adorned. Often created on both ends of the train station, community members would gather together to maintain elaborate gardens as a way of creating a sense of place and community.

In 1914 a new train station was built in Petaluma to replace an old wooden structure that had been moved and converted to a freight depot. (Image: Historical 1915 postcard)

Annual Rose Pruning Event
To maintain the rose garden Ms. Reed founded the Petaluma Rose and Garden Club. The Club is comprised of a group of volunteers who have agreed to maintain the rose garden at the Petaluma Train Depot in perpetuity. In addition, each year Sandra donates her time to a fun and informative ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Roses and other plantings in full bloom as you approach the Train Depot.

Giving Back Using Sustainable Principles
A graduate of Harvard University, Sandra Reed has more than twenty-five years of experience in landscape design and implementation. Ms. Reed is committed to incorporating art into everyday landscapes, employing sustainable design principles and giving back to her community.

Sandra Reed Landscape Architect, Green Valley Consulting.

For more information about Green Valley Consulting Engineers or Sandra Reed visit www.gvalley.com.