| This Rose Garden is dedicated in memoriam Lawrence Neil “Turp” Turrentine His master said, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant! Given by Turp’s family and friends and the congregation of The Mendocino Presbyterian Church |
Turp Turrentine
Lawrence Neil Turrentine, known as Turp to his legion of friends, was born November 22, 1920, in Escondido, CA. He grew up in the San Diego area, attended Pomona College, and went on to graduate from the University of Southern California Dental School. While at USC, he formed life-long friendships with a group that met every year for fishing trips.
Turp joined the army in 1943, and after discharge he practiced children’s dentistry in Claremont, CA until he and his wife Betty Ann moved to Mendocino in 1977. He opened up a practice on Little Lake Road and he often commented, “These are the best years of my dental practice.”
Dr. Turrentine was a member of the Mendocino Presbyterian Church for twenty years, and for much of this period devoted considerable time and energy as lead gardener at the church.
Turp died October 26, 1996, following a sudden stroke.
In honor of Dr. Turrentine and his love of roses, a Memorial Rose Garden was planted next to Preston Hall. The garden was dedicated May 20, 2001.
Acknowledgements:
In 1998 Betty Ann Turrentine asked Mendocino Presbyterian Church to plant a memorial rose garden for her late husband. The Session authorized Karen Moreland to design this garden, using funding given by Turp’s family and friends, and from the Aline Ford Pierce endowment. The collection of Heritage roses was selected to match the history of the Mendocino Presbyterian Church. Propagated on their own roots for longevity, varieties were chosen which would flourish in the marine climate. Michael Moreland hand-crafted the arbor and trellis, and restored the picket fence. Thanks to Alice Flores, White Rabbit Roses, Elk, CA, and Frank Pierce Quality Landscape Company, Mendocino, CA. Volunteers from the congregation maintain the garden.
Plan of the Rose Garden:
Roses planted in the garden:
1. Cecile Brunner, Cl., 1894 – First introduced by Hosp, this is the climbing sport of everybody’s favorite Polyantha.
Cecile Brunner
2. Cornelia, 1925 – A hybrid musk bred by The Rev. Joseph Pemberton of England, several examples of Cornelia can still be found in the yards of older houses around Mendocino.
3. The Fairy, 1932 – Anne Bentall’s tiny Polyantha is a popular and reliable rose for borders.
4. Francois Juranville, 1906 – This beautiful, drought-resistant hybrid Wichuriana has naturalized along Mendocino roadsides.
5. Gloire de Dijon, 1853 – Bred by Jacotot in France, this and other Teas were popular garden roses in the second half of the 19th Century when many made their way into Mendocino’s finest gardens.
6. La Marne, 1915 – A profuse bloomer, the colors in this Polyantha, bred by Barbier, vary according to weather.
7. Manchester Cemetery Rose – This unidentified variety was found growing untended on the south Mendocino Coast and propagated for the Turrentine Memorial Rose Garden by Alice Flores, Elk, CA.
8. Marie Pavie, 1888 – A fragrant and very floriferous Polyantha, Marie Pavie is a long-time favorite in private and public gardens.
9. Marchesa Boccella, 1842 – A Perpetual Damask bred by Desprez, this rose is often referred to as Jacques Cartier.
10. Mme. Gabriel Luizet, 1877 – This fragrant, lilac-pink Hybrid Perpetual bred by Liabaud is a tough survivor that can naturalize in difficult situations.
11. Mrs. R. M. Finch, 1923 – Another great Polyantha which keeps blooming all summer with little fuss.
12. Mutabilis, ancient – A garden favorite, which probably originated in China, Mutabilis is well loved for its ever changing display of colors.
13. Phyllis Bide, 1923 – Long ago, the climbing Polyantha, Phyllis Bide, grew in the same spot and cheered this congregation with its coral, yellow, and pink blooms. Many years later, a cutting taken from the original plant was given to Betty Ann Turrentine for her garden in Elk Grove, CA, as a memento of her many friends at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church.
14. R. Rugosa Alba, c. 1870 – With typical corrugated Rugosa foliage, luminescent white flowers, and a tough constitution, this fragrant rose grows well in marine climates.
15. Topaz Jewel, 1987 – A modern Rugosa hybrid with dramatic yellow blooms, Topaz Jewel also adapts readily to oceanside rigors.
16. Yesterday, 1974 – Harkness bred this modern shrub rose with Polyantha and Hybrid Musk in its parentage. Plum-lavender flowers endue it with unusual charm.
17. Whisper Louise, 1994 – This seedling from the old Hybrid Musk, Kathleen, was introduced by Sebastopol rosarian, Phillip Robinson.