Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Virginia and Louis Saso hope their gardens' new owner will maintain the property.
Saso Herb Gardens owners leaving Saratoga
Couple says it's been a labor of love
By Kara Chalmers
Louis Saso, 84, doesn't need his cane to walk on the wood-chip laden paths that wind through his and his wife's gardens. The gardens, and every leaf and flower contained in them, are as familiar as his own green thumbs.
"To destroy all this some day would be heartbreaking," he said, surveying his land. "It took me half a lifetime to put together."
Saso and his wife Virginia, 75, have decided to retire and leave their beloved home and herb gardens after 38 years in Saratoga. But the move is bittersweet. While the Sasos will be closer to their children and have less property to take care of, they have spent a good portion of their lives putting their hearts and souls into the gardens that have become a landmark in Saratoga and beyond.
"It has been a labor of love," Louis said.
People who hadn't been to the gardens for a while were shocked and saddened to see the real estate sign in front of the property, according to Louis.
"Everyone hates to see them go," said the Sasos' real estate agent, Marge Giannetto of Alain Pinel Realtors in Saratoga.
The Sasos hope that whoever buys the property will appreciate the gardens as much as they do, and keep them as is. "I would be so happy if they could do that," Louis said.
The Saso Herb Gardens, at 14625 Fruitvale Avenue, is one of the largest collection of herbs--for cooking, decorating and medicine--in California. Besides herbs, there are also colorful flowers, pungent fruit trees, statues and shaded areas for resting. There's even an "astrological" herb garden, with plants arranged in the signs of the zodiac.
The Sasos' blue, Craftsman style home sits in the middle of it all. It was built in 1918 and is listed in Saratoga's Heritage Resource Inventory because it has historical significance. The entire property is listed at $2.5 million, according to Giannetto.
"We really want to retire, and we can't retire here," Virginia said.
Louis added, "We can't sell the business here because people would be coming in and out and we live here. It's a situation where we have to move."
The Sasos are looking at homes in the Santa Cruz area, where some of their children now live. They are looking for a smaller place and will bring with them cuttings of herbs, flowers and fruit trees to grow in their new--but smaller--garden.
"At 65, normally, people retire," Louis said. "So I've been trying for all these years--I'm 84."
The Sasos bought the one-acre Saratoga property in 1961, with the intention of going into the herb business after moving from Castro Valley, where Louis had been in the produce business. He had worked in produce since he was 18.
When they bought the property, there was "strictly low, low, low maintenance" gardens with ivy growing everywhere, according to Virginia. The Sasos replaced all the trees except for the huge oak in the middle of the gardens, which, according to the Sasos, is 500 years old. They landscaped using herbs.
Today, the gardens are a beautiful haven, full of plants ranging from garlic and chive, to citrus and olive trees. There are rhododendrons and oregano, raspberries and strawberries, apricots and peaches. There's even a single tree with seven different types of apples growing from its branches. There are fig trees and sweet-smelling African blue basil plants, a gingko tree and caper plants, fuchsias, Concord grape vines and pineapple guava.
"The whole acre has enough to make a person self-sufficient," Louis said.
The Sasos use all-natural, organic and nontoxic pesticides and fertilizers. Louis said working and spending time in the gardens is part of the reason his health is so good. But the gardens are good for the soul, too.
"There is something about nature that is pretty powerful," he said.
In the beginning, it was just Louis and Virginia, with the help of one of their daughters, who maintained the garden. But about five years ago, the Sasos started an apprentice program, a work exchange where people help in the gardens in exchange for knowledge of pruning, herbs, grafting and organic farming.
In 1997, the Sasos formally closed their nursery and Virginia said they have been closing the gardens down in stages since then. But they still offer weekend workshops on topics like dried flower arranging and herb gardening. And one Saturday a month, Louis still gives free tours.
"It took me a long time to decide that we had to make a move," Louis said. "It was getting just too much for us to handle. But I don't want to let it go. It is so hard to say, well, we're going to quit."
Saratoga, California Since 1955
