Notre Dame fathers and their daughters (along with a few moms) came together recently for a morning of service at the Guadalupe River Park in San Jose. Participants removed invasive plants and spread mulch throughout an area betwee the Historic Orchard and the Heritage Rose Garden. The morning started with refreshmens and a welcome from Notre Dame alumnae and Guadalupe River Conservancy education program association, Mel Sarmeno '08. As Mel explained, keeping this area clear allows space for the many educational opportunities provided by the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy.

The Heritage Rose Garden is a unique collection of 3,600 antique and modern roses. Established in 1995 through an extensive community effort, the garden contains 2,600 varieties, more varieties than any other rose garden in the Western Hemisphere. Nearby, the Historic Orchard is a 3.3-acre site, planted in 1994, that is home to more than 200 fruit trees: cherries, apricots, prunes, apples, and more, that were grown in the Valley over the last century.

Special thanks to father/daughter community event chairs John Edmonds (Grace '18) and Ashvin Patel (Sonali '18).