Presidio Park Plant Survey

Chauncy Jerabek

Presidio Park - A Plant Tour, 1969

C hauncy Jerabek conducted a fairly comprehensive plant identification of the western two-thirds part of Presidio, specifically Palm Canyon and westward. The method used to document the horticultural specimens was a simple walk-through documenting species as they were encountered and then hand drawing the points on a map. Jerabek's intent was not just to document what plants were growing at the time but also was meant to act as a plant walking tour.

There were three inventories created by Jerabek. Two nearly exact versions were published in the Journal of San Diego History in April 1962 and Summer 1969. The first plant tour was published in 1961 in the California Garden magazine using a map created by Alice M. Clark. That same map would serve as the cartographic foundation and reference for many future projects, even to this day. The second version was re-published with slight changes, in 1962. In 1969 a third plant identification was performed using data collected by Chauncy Jerabek with edits and updates by then Park Superintendent William Evans also utilizing the Alice M. Clark map from 1961. It is this third (1969) plant identification that will be used as historical reference for this project.

Published in Journal of San Diego History: Summer 1969 Vol. 15 No. 3

 

Previous to his 1962 and 1969 Presidio Park publications he worked at the Balboa Park nursery under the guidance of Kate Sessions and was influential in San Diego horticultural circles since at least 1922.

"Chauncy I. Jerabek, a favorite in our horticultural circles for years, got his training in the Middle West before he visited relatives here. Luckily for us, he met Kate Sessions who recommended him to Mr. Scripps at Miramar. Balboa Park has claimed him for 33 years. There he has developed the Nursery Department with such rare shrubs and trees that garden-minded folk flock to attend his "walk talks." "Jerry," as we know him, has Miss Sessions' graphic ability to awaken plant interest."

California Garden - Vol. 41 No. 2 1950

 

Click the images below for more information and to see larger.
See Jerabak's 1969 plant list HERE

Alice M. Clark map, 1961 A Plant Tour of Presidio Park by Chauncy Jerabek, 1962 Updated map from A Plant Tour of Presidio Park by Chauncy Jerabek, 1962

(Left) Alice M. Clark map, 1961. (Center) A Plant Tour of Presidio Park by Chauncy Jerabek, 1962. Map and booket are courtesy Christopher Pro. (Right) Clark map superimposed onto modern satellite image, showing the plants noted by Chauncy Jerabek in the 1969 publication of his plant tour in the Journal of San Diego History.

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