Picket Post Mansion's Awesome Stone Walkway

Picket Post Mansion has the most magnificent stone walkway along it's western edge. The stone wall was built by many hands in the early 1920's and surrounds the Mansion in a most creative and beautiful manner. The stones were embedded among the rocks on which the Mansion was built. It is believed that Colonel Boyce Thompson brought over a master brick and stone layer from Italy to design and supervise this amazing venture.

As resident volunteer hosts at the Picket Post Mansion of Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, we have been pruning and tugging at the many overgrown vines on the rock wall and accompanying trellises to display the true beauty of the walkway.
We find that there are crevices in the rocks where small cacti have been planted and in one section, a cacti garden was built to enhance the curvature of the wall and add plant life along the walkway. We were delighted to uncover this unique stone garden from the multitude of vines that were covering it.

There are a number 0f small sitting areas along the stone walkway for the frequent pauses of conversation and relaxation that must have occurred with Colonel Thompson and his guests. One sitting area is enhanced with a huge rock water fountain. The water must have fallen down the rocks at least 200 feet from the Mansion floor to the walkway. A grapefruit tree has also been planted near the waterfall to enjoy this shady spot as one sits and cools off. It must of been a very fine way to spend a hot afternoon. Although the waterfall is no longer in use and the grapefruit tree is in need of pruning, there is a quietness in this spot that speaks of times past. As we uncover plants and rocks that have been forsaken , we know that we are bringing new life to an old house and yard that was so superbly put together.

As one gentleman so aptly put it as he gazed at the gardens carved out of rock and the walkways made out of stones "This is the work of human hands, not machines. You can sense their presence and feel the difference."

We are glad that the Arizona State Parks reclaimed this heritage property and plan to bring it back to it's glory. We love having the opportunity of unveiling the plants and rocks as we work on the Picket Post Mansion Walkway.