Article

Preserving Historic Orchards at Redwood National and State Parks

2019 Orchard Workshop

A dense mound of vines grows in an open prairie. A dense mound of vines grows in an open prairie.

Left image
Invasive vines cover one of the apple trees in the orchard.

Right image
Historic apple tree after participants removed vines and damaged branches.
Credit: NPS

In August 2019, the National Park Service held a training program at the Boyes Prairie Orchard, part of Redwood National and State Parks, on how to maintain historic orchards. Students from national parks around the country, California State Parks, US Forest Service, and historic orchard enthusiasts learned about pruning tools and techniques and were able to practice their newly learned skills by cleaning up the dead and damaged branches. They also removed invasive vines that had completely covered one of the apple trees. The skills learned at this training will help maintain and preserve the Boyes Prairie Orchard, and other old orchards throughout the country, for many more years to come.

Why Preserve Historic Orchards?

A long shot of a group gathered under a tall fruit tree in a prairie.
2019 Orchard Workshop at Boyes Prairie Orchard

NPS

The question “Why preserve historic fruit and nut trees in national park sites?” has as many answers as apples on the tree. Some of those reasons are that fruit trees - especially the long-lived apple, pear, and olive species - are often the only remnants of former subsistence or agricultural uses of land by indigenous people or later settlers. Fruit trees gives us clues about how people used to live, and tell us a lot about the history of local cultures, environments, and socioeconomics. As products of horticulture with its own significant history, fruit trees also reflect horticultural trends from specific eras. Additionally, fruit orchards are repositories of genetic diversity of heirloom and rare varieties that may not be found anywhere else.

About thirty percent of National Park Service units have some historic fruit trees or orchards, and Redwood National and State Parks are no exception. There are at least nine orchards within the parks, and many individual fruit trees scattered throughout. Several interesting varieties of fruits exist in the largest two orchards in Redwood National and State Parks: Lyons Ranches Home Place Orchard in the Bald Hills, and the Boyes Prairie Orchard in the Elk Meadow area of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
Tall trees line the side of an open prairie at the site of Boyes Orchard, with structures and fencing at the edge of the clearing.
Site of Boyes Prairie Orchard, 1914

NPS

Videos about the Historic Orchards


In these short episodes, different people share their passion and experiences with working to protect and manage historic orchards. These videos were filmed in August 2019 during a three-day training held at Boyes Prairie Orchard.
  • Historic Orchards: Wildlife Impacts

    Historic Orchards: Wildlife Impacts

    Redwood National Park's cultural landscape architect talks about how elk and bears can damage the parks' orchards.

    Duration:
    4 minutes, 26 seconds
  • Historic Orchards: More Than History

    Historic Orchards: More Than History

    An NPS instructor from Capitol Reef National Park talks about how historic orchards are relevant in today's society.

    Duration:
    1 minute, 35 seconds
A walnut tree grows in a prairie of short, dry grass, framed by conifers.
Walnut tree at Boyes Prairie Orchard

NPS

A version of this article, including the videos, was originally created by Redwood National and State Parks:

Tags

Redwood National and State Parks

Last updated: August 10, 2023