Published September 29, 2005

Leaves on the rare Japanese maple and dogwood trees at Wildwood Farms in Kenwood are turning bright red and fiery yellow right now.

The nursery and sculpture garden specialize in unique and hard-to-find trees and is also a space for Bay Area artists to show off their work.

Sara and Ricardo Monte started Wildwood Farms in 1975, and now run it along with their son, Joe.

Ricardo started in the nursery business, then had a short stint in fashion before opening Wildwood Farms.

Now the trio specializes in the rarest trees.
“He just became the Japanese maple addict,” Sara Monte said.
Included in their collection are maples with tiny leaves, some with shriveled leaves, some with rolled up leaves, like the ones on the Naruto Kaede tree. All are different colors, and all are striking.

Monte said people come from all over the Bay Area looking for these trees, ranging in price up to a few thousand dollars.

“People find us on the website,” Sara said. “They find the collection is pretty much unmatched in Northern California.”

The Japanese maples and the dogwoods are easy to use for landscaping on small lots—the roots don’t go too deep, and the trees don’t grow too big, so they won’t interfere with power lines.

Sara said the maples are perfect for color, and the dogwoods for flowers. Plus, they work in containers.
“We always like the rare and unusual stuff,” Sara said. There is very little here that’s typical or run of the mill.”

At the end of October, free Saturday tours begin. The tours give those interested a chance to see the colorful maples and flowering dogwoods before winter.
“In January it looks very different around here,” Sara said.

The nursery feels like a mini forest, with literally thousands of potted trees.
You can feel lost in there, right next to the highway. There are 300 Japanese maple types, and 30 kinds of dogwood trees.

There are three acres of trees and artists’ works to meander through, and two sculpture gardens. All work is sold on commission.

The “mini” sculpture garden features works that can be lifted and taken home easily. The large sculpture garden features such pieces as iron gates and huge metal pieces.
Monte said most people from Sonoma drive by on the way to somewhere else, but recently the Montes have been more proactive, promoting their sculpture and art on the highway.

Right now, at the entrance of the park, sits a piece in neon by local artist Patrick Scott. Inside, along the round driveway sits another piece by Scott, a metal water feature.
About seven years ago, the Montes began soliciting artists from the Bay Area. Sara said they used to have to go out and hunt for artists who wanted to have their art for sale on the property, but now, she said, they come to her.

They’ve got about 18 artists contributing to the garden, many with recognizable names.
“It’s our own little Salute to the Arts that doesn’t end,” Monte said.

Sonoma artists who have work displayed include Bryan Tedrick, with his huge sculptural gates made of metal.

One called “Wildwood Portal,” is made of powder coated steel.
Also showing is art by Mary Fuller, with her carved concrete; Patrick Scott, who created the Wildwood Farm sign, and the metal water feature.

Also Gerald Arrington with his Cairn Fountains made of clay, Leticia Duenas, Roxanne Hample, and Kazuko Matthews.
The name Wildwood has been in Kenwood for a long time. Monte said the property used to include a whistlestop on part of the train route through Kenwood.

There was also a Wildwood Farm dairy, and across the street Kunde Winery has a Wildwood vineyard.

The garden is at 10300 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood call (888)833-4181 or visit www.wildwoodmaples.com. The garden is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fall Color Tours at Wildwood Farms begin Saturday October 22.