San Juan Garden Club Transforms Library Courtyard

Both city residents and visitors to the San Juan Capistrano Library consider it a local treasure. Designed thirty years ago by the late, renowned post-modernist architect, Michael Graves, it is a city landmark that was and still is controversial for a design aesthetic that is anything but what one would expect in a civic library.

Situated on a small hill just a few blocks north of the Mission adjacent to the Basilica San Juan, on the corner of El Camino Real and Acjacheman Streets, the library fittingly evokes San Juan’s Mission roots, but with a fresh, modern take on neo-Spanish architecture. Graves created a series of unique and intimate spaces that are as enticing and unusual today as they seemed three decades ago. One of the crowning touches is Graves’ “La Sala” – an exterior room, quite literally, in Spanish, - a courtyard gathering space behind the library that is beautifully proportioned and now, thanks to the efforts of the San Juan Capistrano Garden Club, also beautifully landscaped.

Nearly five years ago, Club Founder Valerie Drey was asked by City staff to spearhead a five-year project to restore some of the Library landscaping. Since the SJC Garden Club was hoping to expand its philanthropic efforts, they agreed to take on the project, providing vision, design and installation efforts plus financial support. Stage One of the beautification project included the installation and planting of beautiful pots to line the reflecting pool. The dramatically scaled planters in a lovely cerulean blue provide a striking backdrop to the enticing water feature.

As the non–profit Club worked on designs and raised additional funds, they began Stage 2, removing overgrown plum trees and root bound vegetation, replacing them with eight drought tolerant crepe myrtle trees, red confetti style lantana and other flowering plants and vines in a bed of bark, decomposed granite and gravel. A bench with a plaque acknowledging the Club’s gift to the City was installed as the final perfect touch. It provides an idyllic spot for library patrons to read, converse or simply contemplate the beautiful setting.

Valerie Drey and current La Sala Beautification Project Chair, Nancy Cangiano, spearheaded the project, working with City staff, McGrogen Landscape Design, The Soto Company, Stevens Gardens and a cadre of hardworking volunteers. Nancy credits La Sala Committee Members Mary Crawford. Inge Harris, Dona Helmick, Jeanne Kubrick, Pat Martin, Judy Sage, Mozelle Sukut, Linda Jones, Andrea Jones and Joyce Meyer with providing the unglamorous but essential elements like digging, clipping, sweeping and literally carrying water to see the project through to completion. Founder Valerie Drey says the project has been a “dream come true” as it not only served as a catalyst for other city projects but allowed the Club to enhance the second “jewel” of San Juan Capistrano – the historic Mission, of course, being the first.

Five years of meetings, design and hard work have transformed Valerie Drey’s vision into a beautiful legacy for the residents of San Juan Capistrano. In the words of La Sala Chair, Nancy Cangiano, “it’s been a great ride!”

The public is encouraged to visit this space and enjoy the peace and serenity of a truly beautifully landscaped gathering space. Thank you, San Juan Garden Club!