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Gardens & Guardians at Lake Merritt
-- a garden of volunteers --

50 min.   1920 x 1080    CC
Documentary by John Kirkmire

commentators:
Lydia Swann, Oakland Park Supervisor
Carole Levenson, Friends of GLM Co-President
Tora Rocha, Autumn Lights Festival Founder
Patricia Christopher, Landscape Architect
Eddie Dunbar, Insect Museum Founder
Tora Rocha, Pollinator Posse co-Founder
Gordon Deeg, Bonsai Garden Director
Kathy Shaner, Bonsai Master

Sam Fouche, Master Gardener Coordinator
Bruce Cobbledick, former President of GLM
Shawn Lovell, GLM Gates Designer

Photography, Music & Movie by John Kirkmire


The Gardens at Lake Merritt intro
Volunteering Partnership with City.  Lydia Swann
Oakland East Bay Garden Center Inc. / Friends of GLM. Carole Levenson 
Autumn Lights Festival. Tora Rocha
Japanese Garden. Dick Austin
Landscaping Projects. Tricia Christopher
Gardentown: Birds & Bugs. Eddie Dunbar
Tora Rocha, Pollinator Posse co-Founder
The Bonsai Garden. Gordon Deeg, Kathy Shaner
Master Gardeners volunteers. Sam Fouche
The Gate Project.  Bruce Cobbledick, Shawn Lovell
History Review  / Credits


 City Staff 
Park Supervisor — Lydia Swann 
Juan Cana  — Gardener Crew Leader
Adopt-a-Spot Coordinator — Deidre Martin



Special Recognition Guardians:
Dick Austin
Bruce Cobbledick
Carole Levenson
William Penn Mott Jr.
Tora Rocha
Anne Wooddell
Susan Veit


for more info visit
The Gardens --- gardensatlakemerritt.org
Merritt Landscape Horticulture --- 

City of Oakland  --- oaklandca.gov
Master Gardeners ---  acmg.ucanr.edu
Aesthetic Pruning Club --- aestheticpruning.org

Insect Science Museum --- bugpeople.org
Pollinator Posse  ---  pollinatorposse.org
Bonsai Gardens  ---  bonsailakemerritt.com
Shawn Lovell --- slmetalworks.com


additional images by
Eddie Dunbar, Insect Museum
City of Oakland 
Oakland Tribune Archives
Master Gardeners
Patricia Christopher
Bruce Cobbledick
Shawn Lovell (gate process photos & video)



Great Thanks To Autumn Lights Artists
​
​

Advisors:
Tora Rocha, Bruce Cobbledick, Carole Levenson, Dick Austin


Gardens & Guardians at Lake Merritt
documentary by John Kirkmire
©2020 lakemerritt.org
all rights reserved









Gardens & Guardians at Lake Merritt Bonus Material
21 min. 1920 x 1080

How to Volunteer, Lydia Swann
Volunteer Spotlight: William Able, Curtis Maxwell
Bonsai Garden Suiseki, Janet Roth
Bruce Cobbledick Heritage
Tora Rocha: Succulent Surprise, ALF Growing Pains, Pokemon Go GLM
The Gardens as Classroom: Tom Branca, Jessie Shapiro

photography, music and movie by John Kirkmire
©2020 lakemerritt.org
All rights reserved




























website and photos ©2025 lakemerritt.org
​
  • Home
  • Gardens
  • Birds
  • Recreation
  • History
  • Necklace of Lights
  • 150th
  • LM Links
  • Volunteer
  • LM Advocates
  • LM Breakfast Club
  • Fairyland
  • Autumn Lights
  • R. Nature Cntr
  • LM Dispatch
  • LM Institute
  • LM Weed Warriors
  • LM Projects
  • Park Info
  • Oakland Band
  • Lakeside Art
  • Litter SOS
  • Homeless@LM
  • LM YouTube
  • Contact & Photo Archive