San Quentin State Prison has very beautiful gardens, the inmate caretakers say.
“I enjoy working on the garden,” said Frank Smith, who is the lead man of four groundskeepers for a garden near the prison’s entrance.
Smith said he’s been doing this job for five years to make it a place full of beauty. “I trim the bushes to take shape, to bring them out, and it is part of my meditation doing my work here.”
He went on to say that no seeds, plants or material are given to the caretakers. The plants’ seeds are used to re-plant new flowers and roses. The dead plants are used for compost.
Some of the rare and types of plants are: Yankee spirit, bougainvilleas, Lilies of the Nile, Sonoma yucca, as well as a Norfolk pine that can be seen standing high over the top of the chapel buildings, one of only four in the Bay Area. There are many different types of plants, such as roses, marigolds, firs, palm trees and numerous other types, turning these grounds into a picture-perfect place.
“I enjoy this work outside and watching things grow and planting new plants and watching them take shape,” said Carlos Meza, who has been a caretaker about a year and half.
“This is good therapy for me, working on trimming the grass and bushes and working on the pond and working outside,” said caretaker Curtis Roberts.
Samuel Woige another caretaker added, “I’ve only been here a short time and I like working to help make this area very beautiful and great. You never see plants or trees at other prisons, only concrete walls.”
Smith said, when members of the Americans with Disabilities Act came to San Quentin about a year ago they were very impressed with the beauty of the Garden Chapel area.
Jeffery Long has been caring for the garden in the education area, located on the prison’s Lower Yard.
Long voluntarily took care of the garden for about two and a half years before getting a permanent assignment to the job.
“I took this job because of the influence of Patten College,” Long said. “I watched my grandfather grow and create, and later in life I discovered that I can grow and had a green thumb.”
