Hey Donald! The video was shot by our local paper the Sacramento Bee. Debbie Arrington did a few interview, including me. I had no idea they did a video until this morning. The rose garden is'nt very impressive this time of year but it's full glory is a week or two away. I think what the volunteers have done over the decades, revitalizing the cemetery, bringing the public in for educational tours on various subject, and the plantings enhance this place and are a destination themselves. The city wants the gardens but the guidelines have no nuance. It is black and white. The structures and supports for this world class collection of roses should be allowed. The city could do this but will not give credit to what they have here. Perhaps the article will help them see things in a better light. The safety issue came out of the blue and to me as a big red flag. Safety issues can be used to rationalize any decision. In this case even if there was no vegetation at all there are many places to hide. It's an overreach to blame the roses. Wherever we go safety is an issue we mitigate that with practical caution. Most of the photos I post are from the cemetery with some showing plants that drape over the edge of raised plots or snug up to a flat marker. That is no longer allowed. Twelve inches from all headstones/ monuments and visability from any direction. It goes on. No shading for more than half a day. It's all to keep the microclimate near all the hardscape as humidity free as possible to retard the growth of moss/lichen etc. I get it, I really do. Preservation is not only about the monuments it also includes the historic environment which includes the view. The city would like it to be more open with the long sitelines much of the cemetery still has but exceptions can be made. They are making the rules as they see it. They have the authority to decide. I also know that this place is more relevant to the living with the beauty of the plantings. It will be a great loss to the public if they don't show some flexibility. Those are my thoughts. Any feedback would be welcomed.
