In this issue

• VSC Perspectives
• Docent Training
• It's All in the Details
• From the July 22 VSC Meeting
• Who Is Virginia Russell? The answer is in the Gardens
• Upcoming Community Events

In the Spotlight

• Volunteer Dorothy Russell

Recreating life at the Rancho includes big things like taking care of livestock and tending to the gardens. It also includes the little details like dressing the house with table settings, flower arrangements, dresser scarves, and reading materials.

From eBay to Etsy, Robin and Lauren Herrera are always on the lookout for magazines, periodicals, sheet music, and other kinds of ephemera that add authentic touches to the ranch house décor.

For the next few months, visitors touring the house will see the "current" issue of Successful Farming from August 1924. Some might be amazed that a magazine has lasted 100 years, and others will simply enjoy stepping back in time, even if it's only for an hour.

In 1961 when Florence Bixby died, there were no more Bixbys living at the ranch. Family members bore the responsibility for determining the site’s future. They engaged local landscape architect Virginia Russell to help them prepare the gardens and grounds for the anticipated donation to the City of Long Beach.

Russell had a degree in Floriculture at Purdue University and a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois. In Long Beach, she was a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and became its president in 1951. In 1953, she advocated for hiring a park director, a position she pointed out was already in place in several large cities.

Chronicling the significance of Virginia Russell's work are the two file-folders in RLA's archive filled with lists, notes, and correspondence. Included are plant lists, budgets, expenses, her "to-do" list, an interview with Russell conducted by Loretta Berner, and Pamela Seager's notes summarizing a phone conversation she had with Russell in 1987. In her notes, Seager wrote that Russell was engaged to work with Katherine Bixby Hotchkis on the Rancho gardens in 1963 or 1964. Russell told Seager she was introduced to Florence and Katharine by Bill Harris. He and Berner were members of the recently founded Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB).

In 1965, Russell wrote, "The great attraction here is the result of only one thing - the character of the individuals who created the ranch in this form." She notes the importance of understanding the kind of life it represents and says the only way the essence of this character will be retained is by having other individuals of sympathetic character continuing in its development; otherwise, it will become just another park, too heavily and carelessly used.

Among the experts of "sympathetic character" was Long Beach architect, William (Bill) Lockett. In a 2008 oral history with Bill and his wife Jean, he spoke of his active involvement in saving Rancho Los Alamitos. In a document from 1967, he outlines a budget for rehabilitating buildings, creating a parking lot and entry roads, public restrooms, and possibly with city hopes in mind, building a community center. Due to the isolated nature of the location, a night security guard armed with a revolver was included in the recommendations.

In 1964, Bill Lockett's wife, Jean, a member of the Women's Architectural League, suggested allowing the public to tour the site to help foster interest in the Rancho's history and significance. She believed that everyone in town wanted to see what was inside. People told her she couldn’t get access, but she persisted and was invited to lunch with Katharine who was thrilled at the suggestion and helpful in making the event a success. The event was covered in the Los Angeles Times and in Mary Ellis Carlton's column in the Press-Telegram*.

In a 1965 letter to Preston Hotchkis, Russell includes proposals for personnel and budgets saying they must be approved before she can create a plan for the grounds. In it, she cites assistance from the director of the Los Angles State and County Arboretum, the Descanso Gardens, and the South Coast Botanic Garden. Russell also consulted with Myron Kimnach, a director at the Huntington Gardens and renowned specialist in cactus and succulents.

By 1967, Russell was directing work on the site that included fertilizing, weeding, staking trees, and planting herbs and perennials. In some instances, she used the common names in her instructions, "repot the purplish geranium." In others, she used only the scientific name, "stake old ceanothus in the Native Garden." She sometimes used both, "Plant the seed packet Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)." Her notes show her attention to detail in planning and managing the work in all of the gardens.

In 1968, Bixby heirs donated the 7.5-acre site to the City of Long Beach. Walking through the historic gardens, we see Florence’s original vision and the work of Virginia Russell and Pamela Seager. Today, employees and volunteers work together to keep the beauty in the gardens alive in this place for all time. 

*A copy of the Press-Telegram article is in the April 2024 issue of Meanwhile Back at the Ranch.

To see more photos, access the PastPerfect data base using keywords "Russell, Virginia."

The captions are quotations from Virginia Russell (VR), from notes kept by Loretta Berner (LB) and Pamela Seager's notes (PS) after speaking with Russell.

Help Wanted: Fundraising for Buses

Back to School Campaign Launches

Chris Fountain reported that Erin Wilson is launching a new campaign to raise money to cover the expenses for the buses that bring 3rd and 4th graders to RLA. The Development team wants to ensure donors understand the importance of teaching children about the history of California and the Tongva people.

Educational field trips are particularly valuable for low-income students. For most of our student visitors, their trip to RLA is their first interaction in a museum-like setting. As grant funding proves more elusive, the demand for bus scholarships has increased.

When the opportunity arises with friends, family, or others, please tell them how easy it is to make a difference! If you need a way to start the conversation, let them know how much the students enjoy the storytelling and asking questions of our Tongva educators. And the lessons they learn about early trade while making their soapstone necklaces. It is integral to our community that Rancho field trips are available to all students, regardless of their school budgets.

Sisneros Family Reunion!

On July 20, more than 180 members of the Sisneros family got together to visit the Rancho. During their visit, they caught up with family members at the place their grandparents and great-grandparents lived and worked. Docents Pat Coil, Roberta Rogoff, and Doug Cox acted as hosts for the day as the family toured the house.

When the tour reached the table featuring a pan of Faux Foodie enchiladas, they paused to admire how real they looked. Some said they looked just like the ones they make at their own homes. Others commented on the color of the sauce, suggesting it was mole. 

Dorothy Russell is a dedicated volunteer who serves on the VSC Steering Committee and whose work spans several activities, including the Hospitality Committee, which she co-chairs.

What made you decide to become a Rancho volunteer?

After retiring from a very long, but rewarding career, I was looking for an opportunity to share with others those things that might add meaning to their lives. It could have been knowledge, companionship, kindness…. I wasn’t sure of the fit.

I was already volunteering at rehabilitation facilities playing the piano for their residents, which was very fulfilling, but I still had more to give. In my quest, I ran across the RLA Community Outreach table at CSULB where information about volunteering opportunities was given to me. The recruiters, specifically Roberta, were convincing and she offered me the opportunity to meet with her at RLA which I did and, of course, over the years found my fit. Thank you, Roberta.

How long have you been volunteering here?

I have been volunteering at RLA since May 2018 - a little over 6 years now and much appreciate the variety of different opportunities that have become available to me. I love them all and hope to continue for years to come.

What do you like best about the time you spend at the Rancho?

There are many things that I like the best about the time I spend at the Rancho. It is difficult to choose just one. I love the challenges of new opportunities, the people I work with (both paid and volunteers), the camaraderie, the special friendships, the environment, the animals (of course), and finally the opportunity to share with visitors and others I work with when opportunities arise. I have found a true second family.

What’s your favorite thing to hear from visitors?

My favorite things to hear from visitors are how the Rancho experience has been so fulfilling in adding to their lives whether it be the history, the Ranch house, the beautiful gardens, our livestock, or the friendly and accommodating volunteers and staff they encounter during their visits. It is as personal to them as it is to us.

What do you like to do when you’re not at the Rancho?

When I am away from the Rancho I look forward to spending time with my family and friends - both are so important and special to me. I love music and dream of playing the piano at some hotel lounge where everyone ignores you but enjoys the background music. Although realistically this will not ever happen, but this is ok - just a fantasy.



I love shopping, especially with my daughter. We are a great team, encouraging each other to buy those clothes that make both of us happy. Amazon is also a close friend of mine. I am a vociferous reader - give me a book and I will read it.

Crafts are a weakness (I love them). I have been through bow making and tissue paper / crepe paper flowers that I love doing and gifting to others.

Who knows what’s next? I like giving joy to others. I plan annual RN appreciation days for an outpatient surgery center in Long Beach each year where my daughter is an RN. I love giving and making others happy. This gives me pleasure.

Which is the one word your friends and family would use to describe you?

I had to ask friends and family about what one word they would use to describe me since only they would know. So I did. They were more than kind. Thank goodness. The commonality in words they gave were giving, caring/kind/thoughtful, sincere, reliable, resilient, good listener, true to myself, and most importantly - gorgeous (I wish). Honestly, no one word could describe any one person, but I am more than grateful that they see me as I try to be.



What else do you want us to know?

I cherish the opportunities the Rancho has made available to me. I needed something more in my life a number of years ago and the Rancho experience came through and still does. I began as a barnyard greeter, a pre-pandemic hospitality volunteer which was so fun, and a greeter.

I later trained as a docent and love doing tours before and during public hours. I work in the gift shop and much enjoy speaking with visitors and helping them to find treasures to take home. Duane is pretty terrific, too.

I have been given the opportunity to co-lead the Thursday docent team who are all incredible and a pleasure to work with. I work with the Saturday docent team once and sometimes twice a month and much enjoy interacting with them. I participate in the Tovaave and Footprints programs which I cherish. I treasure being a co-lead in Community Outreach - so rewarding meeting so many people and working with so many volunteers and with my co-lead Roberta who is inspiring and a great mentor. I much like volunteering for other events to include concerts, Cottonwood, and the recent Volunteer Recruitment event which was incredible. I also love working as a co-lead with our hospitality committee. I hope I didn’t leave anything out. I love it all. I am grateful for these opportunities and the friendships I have made.