The Inner-Courtyard Rock Garden

Clara loved her rock garden and truly enjoyed spending time in that space. Rex Bell Jr. noted in his 2010 interview that it was made to look like a Navajo rug and regrets that the garden was ultimately dismantled. He credits Big John as a "master" of rockwork.

Contrary to what most may think, a rock garden still requires maintence like any other garden. Although bereft of plants that require much watering, a garden like this would still need require regular weeding and other tasks to keep it looking pristine. The desert has a way of reclaiming spaces in this manner.

Clara Bow among her rock garden in the inner courtyard of the Ranch House, ca. mid 1930s.

If you visit the Ranch, or look at pictures, you will notice Joshua trees feature prominently on the property and in the surrounding area. They are very fragile because of their shallow root system, and and only flourish given minimal human intervention.

This is a picture of the inner courtyard today. Note the position of the Joshua tree in the photographs taken in the 1930s. Compare the photographs above and the one below. The Joshua tree is in a different corner of the courtyard!

Photo taken by our class at the Ranch in October of 2019.