Jeanne Carr named the place "Carmelita", the meaning of "carmel" being "a grove", and she planned to fill the property with trees.

Of nut trees, she had English walnuts, almonds, butternut, beachnuts, chestnuts, chickpecans, and filberts.

[4] The 42 acres (17 ha) tract was located in the San Gabriel Valley on the northeast corner of Colorado Street and Orange Grove Avenue.

[4] The house where she was living was a mere shanty, but she had planted grape and hop vines about it, which grew swiftly and festooned over the old walls, crooked windows, and low casings until the barn-like effect had entirely disappeared.

In the course of years, it became noted for several things; first, its great variety of fruit and ornamental trees and plants-more than 200 in all-which Jeanne had obtained from nearly every part of the world; for the hospitality extended by its hosts to many eminent people, drawn to "Carmelita" by the personalities of the owners; and as well because of its beauty and interest.

In a log cabin on these grounds, it is said that Helen Hunt Jackson, while visiting the Carrs, wrote part of Ramona.

[4] The fourth year of her planting found Jeanne as a packer and shipper of citrus fruits and some nuts.

[5] On January 31, 1907, it was announced that a name for the public pleasure park, which was being suitably equipped by popular subscription, had been selected.

[8] The promoters of the plan for a public pleasure park hailed from Pasadena, and decided to incorporate.

[9] Around 1923, Carmelita Gardens was purchased by a group of civic-spirited people and presented to Pasadena with the thought that someday in the future, it would be developed into an art institute.

The first step in this plan was taken in 1925 with the organization of the Pasadena Art Institute, which had in its membership many of those who contributed to the purchase of the gardens.