On the evening of July 11, 2009, tragedy struck The Garden as a fire started along the street just west of Garey Avenue. Wind quickly carried embers into the vacant lot behind The Garden, which quickly lit up the enormous eucalyptus trees at the back of the property. Within a matter of moments, embers fell all across the yard and lit the house and other structures ablaze.

All humans and animals escaped unharmed except for frayed nerves. The Yarn Shop next door did not fair so well and lost two dogs to the blaze.

In the past few months, the house has been demolished and we have cleaned up to a great extent -- and on August 22 we re-opened our doors for business. As many of you know, we are a community resource for gardening supplies, garden design, and propagation help, and support many local gardening groups: Claremont Food Not Lawns, The Regenerative Cooperative of Pomona, and helped form and continue to maintain the children’s garden at Lincoln Elementary School in Pomona. We are now rebuilding from what remains and envision it as a great center for resources, learning, and as a continued respite for gardeners and the larger community.

For those who have already done so much to help us, Thank you!!!!!

Below are some pictures from during and after the fire.

 
The night of the fire.

 
The gift and garden shop after the fire.

 
Inside the front door of the shop.