Base Map by Tetra Tech

Telephone Hill Historic Plant Report June 2008Juneau residents informed the City and Borough of Juneau that important plants and gardens exist on Telephone Hill that may be historically significant. Staff interviewed local horticulturalists and residents of Telephone Hill, Dave and Peggy Pijan, on June 2, 2008. This report records and documents the interview through photographs and narratives.

The locations of the plants and structures are estimated on the base map and not measured or surveyed.

1. Lilac, Syringa spp. unknown varietyThis lilac is estimated to be 75-90 years old, most likely the oldest planted tree in Juneau. Dave, Peggy and other local horticulturalists have tried to identify the specific lilac species for many years. It is considered to be very rare because it cannot be identified to any known species.

2. Rhododendron, thought to be English RoseumThe rhododendron is 100 years old and Peggy and Dave think it may be English Roseum. The trunk of the rhododendron is thick and branched and the annual flowering show is spectacular.

3. Red Hawthorne, Crataegus laevigataThis tree originates from a start from a Scottish tree. The first lighthouse keepers on Point Retreat brought this tree from Scotland.

4. Lilac, Syringa spp. unknown varietyThis lilac is an old tree that was large prior to mountain ashes on the hillside shading it. According to Peggy and Dave, it is a good candidate for transplant to another area.

5. Icelandic Birches, Betula spp. Three icelandic birches were planted in the early 1960s by Verna Carrigan. The trees were to be delivered on a boat to the Aleutian Islands. However, during the growing season the boat stopped in Juneau and it was decided that it was too late in the season to bring them to the Aleutians so they were left in Juneau. Verna Carrigan received these trees as a gift from a friend in the government who had connections to this boat.

6. Crabapple, Malus spp.Unknown heirloom variety that is fully mature and is covered in blossoms and fruit in the summer.

7. Approximate Boundary of Cherry Orchard, Prunus spp.The orchard extended historically from the state office building to House #128 or the Martin-Johnston house. This is the oldest fruit producing orchard in Southeast Alaska. The trees are similar to the Montmorency Cherry and may be crossed with a Japanese Cherry. Many of the cherry trees still exist and produce fruit annually. The trees are scattered throughout this area and the symbols on the map represent general location and clusters of trees, but not actual numbers of trees.

8. Within this area, the three grey lines represent the location of Verna Carrigan’s stone and concrete terraced gardens. Facing the channel, these gardens are now overgrown, but the original plants are intermixed with native volunteers. Landscaped plants still found include Black Birch, Serviceberry, Cherry Trees, Roses, and Meadow Rue.