Tree Man” of Fallbrook Supports ‘Green

Roger Boddaert stands along a trail under the canopy of his expansive home garden in Fallbrook. Roger Boddaert inside his home office is a space where he learns, shares and plans natural landscapes for clients. A portal at Boddaert’s property provides an entrance to a new space to experience the natural aesthetics of his garden.

What’s important in Roger Boddaert’s life? The Fallbrook arborist and landscape designer has a definite answer:

“It’s all about caring for the earth,” he replied recently. He supports the worldwide “green movement” but most of his concentration is Fallbrook.

“This is a unique, special place,” he said. “It’s like a cul-de-sac in life, a hill-n-dale with beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

“Once you come over the hills from Riverside County, it’s such a different world here.

“Fallbrook attracts very interesting people. I’ll ask many of my clients how they found us or what brought them. It’s usually the greenery, the trees,” Boddaert said.

Boddaert began his career working in the landscape nursery trade in Los Angeles. He also worked in the studio business part-time, on construction crews of movie sets including “The Music Man,” “Hello Dolly,” “Cleopatra” and “PT-Boat 109.” He also worked at creating many beautiful party events and gala floral shows while gaining momentum to open his own business.

Boddaert and wife Birgitta moved here 45 years ago from Santa Monica. A certified arborist, he is a landscape designer and ornamental horticulturist. His passion for the plant world has led him to specialized growing and some plant breeding that he uses in his specialty gardens.

He also lectures, writes, designs, grows and educates.

Fallbrook and its climates are extremely conductive for growing such a wide range of flora, he said. Boddaert has also became an organizer and community activist – and very opinionated.

“I’m a messenger and a storyteller,” he said. “There are so many stories about trees. Trees are like people. There are studies about this. They talk with each other through their root systems.”

Boddaert is determined to do his part in preserving the earth. His tree-planting efforts and environmental concerns for the good of the globe and its children are relentless with his energy. He has been involved with many plant societies and sits on many boards that tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience.

“I’m very concerned of what man has done to the planet and our stewardship of earth,” he said. “I hope to continue the movement of educating, protecting, preserving, pre-planning and planting for the future.”

“I remember what my father told me: ‘If there’s a will, Roggie, there’s a way.’”

by Rick Monroe

Shane Gibson photos

ROGER BODDAERT’S COMMUNITY PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS:

• Joined with others to start the Master Treescape Program in the early 1990s for downtown Fallbrook. • Started with others in the 1990s the tree-planting and restoration at the Los

Jilgueros Preserve. The Fallbrook Land Conservancy coordinated 750 volunteers to plant 435 trees on a Sunday morning. • Developed a “Tree Action Kit for” Fallbrook, which has been distributed all over the

U.S., receiving national and international awards. • Helped save Live Oak Park from being closed/abandoned and sold to developers in the 1990s. Also saved old oak trees from being cut at the park. • Assisted saving native trees with the Save Our Forest group. • Designed a master botanical garden for the Grand Tradition. • Planted thousands of trees on Fallbrook school grounds, freeways and preserves. • Designed and planted over a hundred oak and sycamore trees on the Dinnwide 36

Preserve with high school students, as well as many trees at Fallbrook High School. • Involved in helping start the Fallbrook Community Gardens. • Helped planting trees along the Pico Promenade in the 1990s. • Started the Firescape Gardens at the Los Jilgueros Preserve. • Gave dozens of educational workshops/seminars for the community on tree planting, xeriscaping/drought tolerant landscaping and irrigation, mulching, native plantings, tree care and many more • Wrote a column, “Roger’s Picks,” for the Village News for 20 years. • Designed and implemented many native/permaculture/drought-tolerant custom gardens over Southern California. • Volunteered for more than 40 years on many community projects. • Sits on many boards and brings his vast experience to the organizations. • He is San Diego advisor for the California Oak Foundation. www.my-sourcebook.com