Melrose Orchard Rehabilitation Plan

The Jaeger Company

Rehabilitation Plan for Melrose Orchard at Melrose Estate at Natchez National Historical Park, National Park Service. Melrose Estate is a 78.6-acre Greek revival style suburban villa in Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi. The property is a National Historic Landmark, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is part of the Natchez National Historic Park (NATC). Melrose Estate features fifteen historic buildings, roads, paths, open lawns, specimen trees, ponds, former agricultural fields, and gardens. However, this rehabilitation plan focuses on the orchard at Melrose. Though little is known about the orchard, it is likely that it was originally planted during the mid-1850s when the property’s building and structures were constructed. Historically, the orchard produced peaches, cherries, apples, and pears, as well as figs and wild plums in later years. The orchard became neglected by the 1970s and very few healthy fruit trees remained. The existing trees in the orchard do not reflect what existed historically. This rehabilitation plan clearly states projects goals for the orchard, including returning it to its early twentieth-century landscape character and planting historic varieties of fruit trees. Additionally, the plan discusses the rehabilitation methodology for the orchard in detail, as well as offers considerations for how and when to plant new specimens. The management goals for the orchard include focusing on tree health and survival rather than fruit production and creating an orchard that is organized on a grid. The plan also establishes maintenance tasks for the various stages of the orchard rehabilitation. The plan advises where to potentially source fruit trees as well. Finally, the report is accompanied by a planting plan.

Melrose Orchard Rehabilitation Plan

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