The Trees of Overfelt Gardens

The land for Overfelt Gardens was bare farmland when it was donated, so all trees and plants had to be planted. Our docent described that many Chinese immigrants left China with seeds and seedlings from their homeland. Once they arrived, they propagated the seeds and began planting them in the San Francisco Bay Area to remind them of home. She described one family who traveled from Northern China to Hong Kong, with jewels, currency, and valuables sewed into their clothing, and pocketfuls of seeds and plants.

Distinctive leaves of the Ginkgo tree at Overfelt Gardens.

Many of the trees in Overfelt Gardens were planted from seeds and seedlings brought over from China. Many of them were once considered quite rare. Through propagation and naturalization, these plants have become familiar in San Jose and the Bay Area, including:

• Cherry
• Chinese Pistachio
• Chinese Red Pine
• Crape Myrtle
• Flame Tree
• Ginkgo

Overfelt Gardens also has many native plants, including oak, palm, and willow. The trees and plants of Overfelt Park are an integral part of its peaceful beauty.