WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.759 --> 00:00:06.200 Broadcasting from Studio A Here at Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. 2 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:10.560 It's time for the Gardening Simplified Show with Stacey Hervella me, 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:15.279 Rick weisst and our engineer and producer Adrianna Robinson. Well, 4 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:20.440 Happy Birthday America two hundred and fifty years. Part two 5 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:26.280 of our series on gardens. We'd love to see you visit, 6 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:32.079 and today we'll cover a number of botanical gardens that 7 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:35.759 we recommend you visit. Of course, these gardens are tied 8 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.280 to history and the rich history of our country, but 9 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.640 it's really not the history here that we're talking about. 10 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:47.759 Our goal is to present them as they are today 11 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.640 and to inspire you to visit them. Just a rich 12 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:59.399 agricultural and horticultural history to our country. Stacy a comment 13 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.200 from one of our viewers that I thought was great 14 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:06.319 about land grant universities in the United States. I have 15 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:11.519 often visited the gardens at Michigan State University, a land 16 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.120 grant university. It also makes me think of I think 17 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.280 it's called the J. C. Ralston Gardens at North Carolina 18 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:25.920 State and North Carolina State has been instrumental in the 19 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:30.640 development of the horticulture industry here in the United. 20 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:33.879 States, absolutely, and J. C. Ralston was too. He unfortunately 21 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.640 passed away far too young. But his dream was to 22 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:42.079 have a state arboretum for North Carolina and that is 23 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:44.920 what became the J. C. Ralston Arboretum. And it is 24 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.920 a wonderful place that you should absolutely visit. And you know, 25 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:50.560 speaking of visits, we hope that you are able to 26 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:53.439 go to all of these gardens in person and experience 27 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:55.879 them for yourself and learn about the history. But I 28 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.799 do have to say, in researching all of this, there's 29 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:02.040 a lot of great web sites. So if you cannot 30 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:04.840 wait until you can visit them, or you're just sitting 31 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:07.879 around and want a dream big, do visit their websites. 32 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:12.960 There are wonderful stories, the history maps, all of that 33 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:15.439 good stuff. So it's the second best thing to visiting. 34 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:20.560 Yeah, really absolutely, and that's true. The websites are fantastic. Now, 35 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:24.199 of course, I guess to start out, you know, again, 36 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:27.159 you talk about history, you talk about the women's movement 37 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:31.199 and suffrage and voting rights, and boy, that's kind of 38 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.840 tied into that was the mid eighteen hundreds. It's kind 39 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:38.000 of tied into the Founder's Memorial Garden. I have never 40 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:39.599 been there. But i'd like to go. 41 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:44.319 Right, I have never been there either. This is in Athens, Georgia, 42 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.159 on the campus of the University of Georgia. And you know, 43 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:50.360 the gardens that we're picking for this show, right, like, 44 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:52.159 the comments are already coming in, and we're going to 45 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:54.400 wait until the whole series is over and we will 46 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.280 do something to address all of the gardens that we 47 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:00.680 miss our being outcried in the comments. We'll address that 48 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.479 in a future episode. But you know, the one of 49 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.360 the ways that we're trying to pick these gardens is 50 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.759 because of their significance. So it's not always that it's 51 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.240 like the best or most beautiful or special or unique garden. 52 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.080 So that's how a garden like the Founder's Memorial Garden 53 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.120 in Athens, Georgia gets on the list. The Founder's Memorial 54 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:23.439 Garden commemorates the founding of the first Ladies Garden Club 55 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.159 in America in eighteen ninety one. 56 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.360 That is so interesting. What year was that? 57 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:29.240 Eighteen ninety one? Wow, So that was the year that 58 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:31.919 the first Lady's Garden Club was founded. And you know, 59 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:35.400 to us now, it's kind of interesting because I think 60 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:38.680 most people think tend to think no offense rick of 61 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:41.439 gardening is a woman's pastime, which is garbage. It's not 62 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.479 you do not need to be a specific gender to garden. 63 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:47.120 I'm not even touching that one. 64 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.400 But really, you know, and if you couldn't tell, you know, 65 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.159 the gardens that we've talked about is we kind of 66 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.000 traveled through the thirteen original colonies and all of that. 67 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:56.360 Of course we're in Georgia, so that's still one of 68 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:01.719 the thirteen original colonies. But you know, gardening was largely 69 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.520 a man's pastime. It was not something that women engaged in, 70 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:08.599 whether it was because they were dressed in hoopskirts and 71 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:10.879 petticoats and all of these other things that made it 72 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:13.879 impossible to actually bend over much less work in the 73 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:17.560 garden and pull weeds and so forth. So this is 74 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:22.439 really instrumental in the fact that now it was okay 75 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:24.920 for women to garden. It was accepted women could get 76 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:28.639 together in their own societies and talk about gardening and 77 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.720 celebrate gardening and learn about plants. And you know, now 78 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:36.920 we take the whole concept of garden societies kind of 79 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:40.279 for granted. They're almost like a quaint concept that don't 80 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:43.399 you know, hardly exist anymore. But this was massive that 81 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:47.560 there was the first garden club for women in Athens, 82 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:49.959 Georgia in eighteen ninety one. So this is a pretty 83 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.360 small garden if you happen to be in Athens, Georgia, 84 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:56.079 you might even miss it if you didn't know about it. 85 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:59.279 But this garden was actually chartered in nineteen thirty six 86 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:04.120 specifically to commemorate the founding of the first women's garden. 87 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:07.959 It wasn't completed until ten years in nineteen forty six. 88 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.040 So it's kind of a formal garden with a clipped 89 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:14.399 boxwood parterre, and a parterre is basically, I guess what 90 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.279 most people would consider like a k not garden, very formal, 91 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:21.279 clipped boxwood hedges, sometimes with plants inside them, So it 92 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:24.319 has this kind of formality. But it also functions as 93 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:28.639 a living laboratory for the University of Georgia College of 94 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:32.040 Environment and Design, so they're doing research on trees. It's 95 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:33.879 about a five acre site. You can rent it for 96 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.959 weddings and events and all of those types of things. 97 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.199 But again this one is included not because this is 98 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.120 the most stunning guard that you're ever going to see, 99 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:44.800 but that role in history and the fact that even 100 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:47.639 in nineteen thirty six, you know, some forty years after 101 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.360 the first Lady's Garden Club was founded, they felt that 102 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:53.199 that was significant enough to commemorate with its own garden. 103 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:57.839 Interesting. Well, I guess my only editorial comment would be 104 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:02.240 I used to operate a guard center, and I understand 105 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:07.040 that probably nine out of ten decisions made at a 106 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.199 garden center are made by a woman, not a man. 107 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:14.240 It's just the way it is, and we love them. 108 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:16.439 Yeah, and you know, I think that that that's my 109 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.160 only kind. I'm grateful that gardening has become much more 110 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:20.879 democratized because of the Internet. 111 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:21.720 Yes exactly. 112 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:24.560 You know, there are at least as many male gardening 113 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:28.600 influences as there are female gardening influencers. But again, as 114 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:31.120 we're talking about history, it's pretty wild to think that 115 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.720 there was a time where it's unbelievab, where you know, 116 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:36.720 pearls would have been clutched if a woman so much 117 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:38.959 is dreamed of planting something. 118 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:44.279 So goodness, Well, let's move on here, and let's let's 119 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.079 go to southern Florida. 120 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.439 Oh, we're actually going to take a detour first. We're 121 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.560 going to well we're still in Florida. But I found 122 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.920 out about a garden just to this morning. Well, I 123 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:56.199 knew about the garden before, but once I started reading 124 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.519 the story of this garden, I said, oh, this has 125 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.439 this is going to make the cut. It's in your 126 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.360 digital notes, it's in your paper notes here, okay. But 127 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:06.720 when I read this, and then I read the story 128 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.600 of the person who founded this garden, I said, this 129 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:10.800 is exactly the type of story that we want to 130 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.360 tell on the Gardening Simplified Show for part two. So 131 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.360 it is Bach Tower Gardens and Lake Wales, Florida. Have 132 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.639 you been there? I have been there, Okay, So it's 133 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.759 kind of I looked on the map southwest of Orlando. 134 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:25.759 It is still deep within theme Park Florida, not far 135 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.600 from Legoland. So if you are in Florida visiting all 136 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:32.399 the theme parks, you may not have time because you're 137 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:34.519 running around theme park to theme park. But this is 138 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:39.759 absolutely a garden worth your visit because the founder of it, 139 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:44.439 Edward Bach. It's a true American dream story, So get 140 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.680 ready for this. He comes to Brooklyn at the age 141 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.480 of six as an immigrant from the Netherlands. He's educated 142 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:54.160 in New York City public schools. In Brooklyn, he works 143 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.399 as a quote office boy for Western Union Telegraph in 144 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:00.279 eighteen seventy six. And you know, this is a the 145 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:04.040 classic American story. He's attending night school to further his education. 146 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:06.680 So here's this guy trying to make a living, you know, 147 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:11.160 older teenager, young twenties, out of school, working at telegraph office, 148 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:13.920 going to night school. He eventually starts to work his 149 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:17.519 way up in publishing and advertising sales for magazines. All right, 150 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:21.959 he now speaking of women and how gardening has changed. 151 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:23.560 This is going to say, this is almost absurd for 152 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.600 me to say, but it's still part of history. He 153 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:28.680 becomes the first editor of the Ladies Home Journal in 154 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:29.800 eighteen eighty nine. 155 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.720 An immigrants from the Netherlands. 156 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:37.120 Yes, so he ends up so the Lady's Home Journal 157 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.080 was there. He becomes the editor of the Ladies Home 158 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:43.480 Journal in eighteen eighty nine, and under Edward box leadership, 159 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.120 the Ladies Home Journal becomes the first magazine in the 160 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:52.600 world to reach one million subscribers. Which that's crazy to 161 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.720 think of that happening, you know, way back in the 162 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:58.960 early nineteen hundreds, late eighteen hundreds, because things did not 163 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:01.279 happen as quickly as they do now with the Internet. 164 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:04.840 Under his direction at the Ladies Home Journal. He coins 165 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.600 the term living room. He renames the concept of Victorian 166 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:12.120 parlors to living rooms, so they used to be called parlors. 167 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.360 By him, they become living rooms and now that, of 168 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:18.559 course is common parlance for us and in he was 169 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.200 a big proponent of the early American arts and crafts movement, 170 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:26.399 and he publishes Frank Lloyd writes home plans in the 171 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:30.080 Ladies Home Journal, making him and his home style as 172 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:33.759 popular as they became. Amazing, isn't that incredible. He was 173 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:37.039 a very forward thinking person. He fought for women's rights, 174 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:39.799 the right to vote, and he also helped to ensure 175 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.519 that Niagara Falls was preserved from development. So that's the 176 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:45.559 fun thing about these is you start reading these histories 177 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:49.039 and there's all these like crazy points connecting everything. So 178 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.799 he moves to Florida and he has a vision to 179 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:57.000 found a garden and this is a quote directly from 180 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:00.519 the bach Tower Gardens website, as a gift for visitation 181 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.919 by the American people in gratitude for the opportunity they 182 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.919 had given him. So he wants to give this garden 183 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:10.240 to the American people to enjoy. He employs Frederic loh 184 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.120 Olmsted Junior. So we talked about Frederick law Olmsted a 185 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.000 lot in the last episode. We're gonna still be talking 186 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.960 about him because we've got some big Frederick law Olmsted 187 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:20.480 Gardens coming up, and he specifically designs it with Frederick 188 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:24.679 lah Olmsted Junior, as a sanctuary for birds and native wildlife. 189 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:29.360 And Olmsted Junior specifically chooses plants and cites them to 190 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:32.960 quote provide a hearty supply of food and shelter for 191 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:36.600 migrating birds and other wildlife. Now to this day, the 192 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:40.320 threatened gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake make their homes 193 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.799 at Bach Tower Gardens. And there is a picture, and 194 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:45.240 this is sort of why the thing that I saw 195 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.080 this morning that made me really want to look into 196 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:51.159 his story. There was a picture of Edward Bach standing 197 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:54.039 next to a sign that says, quote, a sanctuary is 198 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:57.080 a place where the rights of all living things are respected. 199 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.120 And that just kind of really summarizes his, you know, 200 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.120 view on life and the viewpoint that he had building 201 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:08.039 bock Tower Gardens. Now, I think what most people know 202 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:11.600 Bock Tower Gardens for is his dream of building a carolon. 203 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.600 Now I don't know a lot about carolons. They are. 204 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:17.879 I am vastly underestimating them to call them a bell tower, 205 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.600 because they are so much more than a bell tower. 206 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:24.080 I learned a lot about carolons today. Fascinating topic. He 207 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:26.679 commissioned a carolan at the center. He is buried at 208 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.600 the base of the carolon at bock Tower Gardens and 209 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:32.120 it's one of only one hundred and eighty five caralons 210 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:33.039 in the US. 211 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:34.399 Wow. 212 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.240 They have a great page on their website about carolons. 213 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.080 There's a great carolan at bell Aisle, which we'll be 214 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.120 talking about later. 215 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.480 And we are if we get to it, because at 216 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:44.799 this rate it's not looking at. 217 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:47.559 Edward Bach. 218 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:51.759 Fascinating story in a beautiful garden. I have not visited there, 219 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:54.120 but I will tell you should I find myself in 220 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:57.039 the Orlando area again, I will certainly be making a 221 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:00.240 detour because it looks fabulous. It's about the bird, it's 222 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.600 about the wildlife, and it's about Edward Box. Gift to 223 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.360 the Americans who helped him realize his dream. 224 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:09.039 You saved the threatened gopher toward. 225 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.240 Yeah, I meant to look that up. I'm sure it's adorable. 226 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:15.519 When the tortoise arrived, he said, I'll be back. Sorry. 227 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.320 All right. On that note, we're gonna take a little break. 228 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.519 When we come back, we're going to continue our journey 229 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:30.080 into Florida Gardens of Police. Stay tuned beautify your home 230 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.399 and community with proven Winner's Color Choice Shrubs. With over 231 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:36.360 three hundred and twenty five unique varieties to choose from. 232 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.000 There's a flowering shrubber evergreen for every taste and every space. 233 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:42.960 Just look for the distinctive white container your local garden 234 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.080 center or learn more at proven Winner's Color Choice dot com. 235 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:51.480 Greetings gardening friends, and welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Shrub, 236 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:54.600 where we're continuing our tour of gardens that shaped America 237 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.919 and public gardens that you can visit, because we're not 238 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.679 talking about gardens that aren't still around. All of these 239 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.440 gardens are still around. They are open to the public. 240 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:04.559 Some of them may not be open every single day, 241 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.200 so you do want to check before you go. But 242 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:10.360 we wanted to kind of share some gardens around the country, 243 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:15.639 big and small, famous and less famous, that the people 244 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.919 and the garden themselves, and the people who worked in 245 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:20.919 and designed the garden helped to shape our history, and 246 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:24.320 that's something you can participate in. So we are moving 247 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:29.639 to a garden that is named for an extremely significant 248 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:32.519 American Most people don't know who he is, and that 249 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:37.159 is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida. So you 250 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.320 might hear Fairchild and just think, oh, that's just the 251 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.600 name of the garden, but no, it is named for 252 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.559 David Fairchild, who, again a lot of people don't know 253 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:49.720 who he is, but his impact on American food and 254 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:53.639 gardening cannot be overstated. 255 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.320 I agree. There's a good chance I would have not 256 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.679 had avocado toast for breakfast this morning without DN. 257 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.879 Can you imagine no avocados? And we have David Fairchild 258 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.360 to think. So. David Fairchild was born in Lansing, Michigan. 259 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:10.399 Yeah, I know, amazing, Yes, just up the road from 260 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.679 that studio away. 261 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.879 Not far away. But he did not go to Michigan 262 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:16.559 State University. I know this will disappoint many of our listeners. 263 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:19.679 He then moved to Kansas and graduated from Kansas State, 264 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:24.399 which is still an excellent agricultural program. He then, at 265 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.679 the age of twenty two well worked for the USDA 266 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:31.799 as a quote seed explorer and this work for the 267 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.159 USDA sent David Fairchild all over the world. He went 268 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:39.279 to every single continent except Antarctica inert. And this is 269 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:42.440 in the nineteen twenties, right, This This is not like 270 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.480 hop on a plane in fly first class because you're 271 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:48.039 a frequent flyer. This is long, long hours in ships 272 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.879 and motion, sickness and storms and all of that. And 273 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:58.879 he is credited with introducing two hundred thousand ornamental and 274 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.960 food crops to the US unbelieve that is not a 275 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:04.559 made up number. That is the actual USDA number. At 276 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:08.480 least two hundred thousand different crops he collected around the 277 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.240 world and brought back to the USDA and brought back 278 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:14.840 to the US and just profoundly changed the way that 279 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:17.279 we farm and the way that we garden, and the 280 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:20.799 way that we eat. So before David Fairchild started bringing 281 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:23.519 all of these over, Americans mostly had a pretty meat 282 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.000 heavy diet. Now, of course, if you lived in a 283 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.919 warmer climate, you could grow more of your own food, 284 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:29.840 and people did grow their own food, but you know, 285 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.960 that summer season was pretty small. And yes, people can, 286 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:35.000 but it's not like you could just go to Meyer 287 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.240 and buy a you know, case of ball jars and 288 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.279 it didn't make an impact on your you know, on 289 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:44.759 your finances. So he by bringing all of these different 290 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.080 edible crops to the US, he really changed the way 291 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:54.679 people eat. So just some of his introductions include soybeans, pistachios, mangoes, nectarines, dates, 292 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:57.200 bamboo no that could be a good or a bad thing, 293 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:01.039 depending on how you look at it, kale keen, avocados, 294 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.360 Asrick said, and those flowering cherries that are so associated 295 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:08.480 with Washington, d c. You can thank David Fairchild for those. 296 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.840 When I was there, we were having a taste testing 297 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.279 of mangoes. 298 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:17.759 Oh nice, Fairchild. So we're getting to Fairchild. It is 299 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:21.159 one of the best, I think, most significant mango collections 300 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.240 in the entire US. They do have a mango festival 301 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.360 every year, and yeah, you can taste how many different 302 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:27.600 varieties of mangoes. Did you taste? 303 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:30.679 Cool? There were a few I don't remember, but all 304 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:34.200 I remember is they were delicious and juicy, very good. 305 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.159 When I was there, it was not mango season, but 306 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.759 they did show me around and they have a huge 307 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.399 mango collection. So if you're interested in learning more about 308 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:45.120 David Fairchild, there is a great recent book called The 309 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.519 Food Explorer by Daniel Stone. My husband read it. He 310 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.559 really enjoyed it. I have not read it, but talks 311 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.279 more about that history. And then, just briefly while we're 312 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.360 mentioning books, in David Fairchild. He and his wife, who 313 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:59.679 was Marion Bell. She changed her name, of course to 314 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:07.000 Maryild the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell Hello. She was 315 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.640 the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell. She marries David Fairchild. 316 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.799 They have a house in Maryland as well as in Florida. 317 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.839 We'll get to the Florida partner moment here, but I 318 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.240 have to give this a little side detour because I 319 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.559 know Adriana is gonna want to put this in the 320 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.359 YouTube video as much as I want to talk about it. 321 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:24.799 He and his wife spend one summer constructing this elaborate 322 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:29.960 I think it's eighteen foot long camera specifically to photograph insects, 323 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:33.960 and they publish these photographs in a book that they 324 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:38.039 entitled the Book of Monsters, because in David Fairchild's eyes, 325 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:43.279 he said that insects were beautiful, living creatures that deserve 326 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.680 better than to be quote dried up husks in university 327 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:49.359 drawers and that kind of thing. So you can actually 328 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.799 look at his photos for free on the internet and 329 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:53.359 we will put some links there so you can see 330 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:58.319 he and his wife's amazing work along this So Fairchild 331 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:01.119 Tennic Garden was named for David Fairchild. He was one 332 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.160 of the founders. You can actually see some of the 333 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:06.680 plants that he brought back to Florida that are planted there. 334 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:09.079 There's a baobab tree, probably one of very few in 335 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.319 the continental the US that he collected and planted. And 336 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:17.160 he worked with a bunch of Florida and just botanical visionaries, 337 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:21.440 including Liberty Hyde Bailey to create this collection in Charter. 338 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.559 The Fairchild Botanic Garden, not far from Fairchild Botanic Garden, 339 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:30.680 is David Fairchild's personal estate. It's called the Campong. It's 340 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.640 part of the National Tropical Botanic Garden System. It's not 341 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.480 always open to the public, but it is open to 342 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:40.279 the public on certain days. It is be beautiful. It 343 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.759 is such a special place. 344 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.519 As palm trees. 345 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:47.640 The palms are incredible and you can actually see the 346 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:50.799 very first literally the very first citrus plants that were 347 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:53.559 ever brought back to the US still growing on that property. 348 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.759 Amazing, absolutely incredible, and you know many of us, for example, 349 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:02.440 houseplants in our homes. We will grow ponytail palms, which 350 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.319 is not a true palm, but there are massive ponytail 351 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.720 palms there are also all of the poems really really 352 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.480 struck me when I was there, and I think it's 353 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.000 important to note that with Fairchild, if we're getting to 354 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:22.200 Fairchild at this point. But that entire region was flattened 355 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:26.119 in nineteen ninety two by Hurricane Andrew, and I was 356 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:30.480 there a short time after Hurricane Andrew. As a matter 357 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:33.440 of fact, I remember walking through some of the fields. 358 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:37.279 There's many growers down there, and it's very flat, and 359 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:40.880 there's an area called Aladdin City, which has ties to 360 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.839 us here in Michigan Bay City, Michigan. It was a 361 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:48.839 company that produced homes that you could purchase, have shipped 362 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.960 and all you had to do is put them together 363 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:55.200 like a puzzle. And they were flattened by the hurricane 364 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.279 of the Great Miami Hurricane of nineteen twenty six and 365 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:01.519 then soon after so that you get the Great Depression. 366 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:03.640 They're out of business. But that's why it's called a 367 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:07.640 Laddin City. But there are many many growers down there, 368 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.119 and growers that I would purchase from as a purchasing agent. 369 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:16.359 Like we've talked about Boston ferns as far as the 370 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.839 eye can see, and I've got a picture to share 371 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:22.839 with some of our YouTube viewers. That area is an 372 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:27.920 amazing area. And to think of the weather events that 373 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:32.079 fair Child Botanical Garden has gone through, and the gardens 374 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:35.279 in that area, and the growers in that area. When 375 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:40.200 I visited shortly after Hurricane Andrew, the wild dogs and 376 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:45.200 the pets that were abandoned after Hurricane Andrew. And Hurricane 377 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:51.119 Andrew actually created the movement to cause us to develop 378 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:57.839 better methods of caring for pets after such an event 379 00:20:58.119 --> 00:21:01.759 Hurricane even yea, I have so many memories of it, 380 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.079 I don't know. 381 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:06.000 It is such a unique area. And there's lizards that 382 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.759 blew in from different countries, like in the Caribbean. They 383 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:12.519 actually literally blew to Florida and have since become established, 384 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.839 which is a wild thing to think of. 385 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.759 Can I mention one more? I got to mention this, 386 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:21.039 So Hurricane Andrew's specimens, so many people, many of these 387 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.640 growers walked away from their farms. The plants are laying 388 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.920 on their side. What happens in the ensuing years, the 389 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:30.680 plants begin to grow at a ninety degree angle to 390 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:35.640 the light, and they were sold for premium prices as 391 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.440 Andrew's specimens. We tried to get our hands on dressinas 392 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:42.960 many of these plants, so you have those, and they've 393 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:47.400 inspired some of the plant material that you'll find at 394 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:54.079 parks in Florida, including the Doctor Seuss Park. So oh, anyhow, so. 395 00:21:55.559 --> 00:22:00.480 What's more American than trying to what is it? What's 396 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:03.839 the phrase I'm trying to think of, turn like, turn 397 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.960 something bad into something good? 398 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.119 Oh yeah, making lemonade? 399 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:11.119 Yea? And what's more American than making lemonade out of lemons? 400 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:15.000 So but back briefly to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. 401 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.359 The garden was laid out by William Lyman Phillips, which 402 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.279 is a somewhat known name for those of us in 403 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:24.079 the industry. He got his start as the landscape architect 404 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:27.519 for the Panama Canal, which I thought you would find interesting, Rick, 405 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:31.480 and he fell so in love with tropical landscaping and 406 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:35.079 designing in the tropics that after between the Panama Canal 407 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:37.400 and Fairchild Botanic Garden, he settled there. He said, this 408 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:39.240 is where I am, and I have to say that 409 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:44.480 is my impression too, of going to Fairchild is someone 410 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.000 who has, you know, worked in gardens and visited gardens, 411 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.759 you know, all throughout the East Coast and through other 412 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:54.559 temperate regions. There is really just no describing how breath 413 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:58.119 takingly different it is to be in a totally tropical 414 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:00.880 garden like that, and the way that the plants are 415 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.319 used is completely different. The views are different, the experience 416 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.759 of being in the garden, and not just because the 417 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:10.440 plants look so different, but because everything is just profoundly different. 418 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.799 And you will really see that if you find yourself 419 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:15.720 fortunate enough to go to Fairchild at Botanica Garden. It 420 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:17.640 is way down there, but there's so many wonderful things 421 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.799 to do down in that area. 422 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:23.480 Tropical vines, on pergolos, banana trees. I felt like I 423 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.720 was in Costa Rica. That's how it felt to me. 424 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:31.480 You see any creditin I saw crotons, Absolutely, I saw 425 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:36.559 crotons the garden at night unbelievable. Make sure to visit 426 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:41.200 that garden at night. That's incredible too. So oh, I 427 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:44.599 wanted to quickly mention Bailey palms. Bailey palms, I guess, 428 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:48.599 are native to Cuba and they have huge Bailey Palms there. 429 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:51.599 Look it up. What an incredible palm tree. 430 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:55.480 Yeah, it's definitely worth a visit. It's also the home 431 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:57.759 of the American Orchid Society, so if you love orchids, 432 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.599 a great place to visit, just a great place to 433 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:04.240 visit all around, named for an extremely fascinating person. So 434 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.480 next time you find yourself in South Florida, don't just 435 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.599 get a Cuban sandwich and a mohido. Visit the Fairchild 436 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:14.000 Tropical Garden as well. Now I knew that was going 437 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.559 to take a full segment. We're going to take a 438 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:17.440 little break right now. When we come back, we are 439 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:27.519 moving over to Louisiana, so please stay tuned. At Proven 440 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.720 Winners Color Choice Shrubs, we know that a better landscape 441 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:33.920 starts with a better shrub. Our team of experts tests 442 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:36.759 and evaluates all of our flowering shrubs in evergreens for 443 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:40.160 eight to ten years to ensure they outperform what's already 444 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:44.440 on the market. For easycare, reliable, beautiful shrubs to accentuate 445 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:47.319 your home and express your personal style, look for Proven 446 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:50.200 Winners shrubs in the distinctive white container at your local 447 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:53.039 garden center or learn more at Proven Winner's color Choice 448 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:57.720 dot Com. Greeting's gardening friends, and welcome back to the 449 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:00.319 Gardening Simplified Show. Where I'm talking too fast, it's just 450 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:02.519 because I'm trying really hard to get through all of 451 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:06.039 these amazing gardens. It has been slower than I expected, 452 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.400 But I also knew that we were going to be 453 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:10.079 really excited about these gardens that we've covered so far 454 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:13.680 in memories, so many it's just interesting stories. And this 455 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:17.519 next garden is no exception whatsoever. We are going to 456 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:20.640 Longview Gardens in New Orleans, Louisiana. Now, I have been 457 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:24.559 to New Orleans many times. Wonderful city, just like no 458 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:27.400 other place on Earth, just an amazing place to visit. 459 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:31.000 And I've never been to this garden, but I can 460 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.519 tell you the next time I go to New Orleans, 461 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:34.960 I am making it a top priority because it's actually 462 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:38.160 it's not quite in like the downtown area, but it's 463 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.920 very close. It's very close to City Park, which is 464 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:44.400 accessible on the street car, and just a beautiful free 465 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.599 park that you can visit with a beautiful sculpture garden. 466 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:51.720 But Longview is the estate of Edgar and Edith Stern. 467 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:56.200 Now Edith Stern was Nay Rosenwoald. She was the heiress 468 00:25:56.359 --> 00:26:00.759 to the Sears Roebuck fortune, so she had plenty of money. 469 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:03.839 Her husband, Edgar Stern, was a native New Orleanian and 470 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:06.279 took her down there. She fell instantly in love with 471 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.359 New Orleans, which is very easy to do. It's such 472 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:12.160 a beautiful place. And so they built their home in 473 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:15.240 nineteen twenty four. Very modest by today's standard, but quite 474 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:19.039 grand then and kind of like a marriage of New 475 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.839 Orleans architecture and Northern architecture. 476 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:25.519 Sears used to sell homes out of their catalogue, and 477 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:28.000 I can tell you that this home did not come 478 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.240 from a Sears catalog. 479 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:33.160 No I live. Yeah, yeah, so I know. But yeah, 480 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:36.759 it's a beautiful home. Now, what's really cool is they 481 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.640 started living in this house. They said, hey, this house 482 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:41.680 is great, but you know what, we just don't have 483 00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:46.000 enough connection to the outdoors. We want a more seamless 484 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.599 connection from the home to the outside. We love being outside. Yes, 485 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:55.640 so they hired Ellen Biddleshipman. Now, in the previous episode, 486 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:58.799 we talked about Beatrix Farrand at Dunbarton Oaks in Washington, 487 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:01.640 d C. Ellen but l Shipman was almost a contemporary, 488 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:04.920 a little bit later than Beatrix f Rand, but one 489 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:07.599 of the most important female lands or earliest land female 490 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:11.000 landscape architects in the US. So they can mission Ellen 491 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:13.119 Biddle Shipman to come down there and design the gardens, 492 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:18.559 and she creates at Longview the very first concept of 493 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:22.240 what we would now call garden rooms and an effort 494 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:25.400 to kind of really connect the garden to the house. 495 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:28.440 So these rooms kind of work off the architecture and 496 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.960 structure of the house. There are views that open up 497 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.200 from doors, and this is such a wild thing for 498 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.160 us to think about because now it's all very natural 499 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:38.480 for us to have this sort of seamless flow from 500 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:41.240 the outdoors to the inn and vice versa. But back 501 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:43.759 then it was pretty much unheard of. And so what 502 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:46.480 Ellen Biddle Shipman did was to create these garden rooms, 503 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:50.359 create these grand views. There is not a single window 504 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.759 in the house that does not have a view onto 505 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.599 the garden that relates directly to the garden and how 506 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:59.319 it is used. So Ellen Biddleshipman said of her planting 507 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:02.279 design for Laweview quote, it was as if she were 508 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:04.920 painting pictures as an artist. This is very much different 509 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.759 than the way other people were planting. They were just like, Okay, 510 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:10.279 we need some shade here. Put this here. She really 511 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:14.759 treated the landscape as an artistic composition. She also this 512 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:17.720 is one of the few surviving at Longview, one of 513 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:21.319 the few surviving examples of Ellen Biddle Shipman's interpretation of 514 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:24.480 William Robinson's wild garden stuff. That's something we've talked about 515 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:28.599 in previous episodes. One of my favorite things. William Robinson's 516 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:31.440 wild gardens are difficult to preserve if they were created 517 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:34.000 in the nineteen thirties by a garden designer, because how 518 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.680 do you do that. You know, they don't have the 519 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:38.440 structure and maybe the clear design. So this is one 520 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:40.440 of the few places you can see her wild gardens, 521 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:44.000 and I think overall the garden is just a really 522 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.680 interesting study, much like we were saying about Fairchild in 523 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:50.599 what happens when an East Coast native or a Midwestern 524 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:53.640 native finds herself in the South. How do you marry 525 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:58.039 these concepts of the designs and gardens that you know 526 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:02.640 and love with a totally different plant palette. And you know, 527 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:05.079 whereas in the Midwest or in the Northeast, you might 528 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:08.880 have a grand allet of oaks or Linden's or something 529 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:12.079 like that. Longview has a beautiful grand a lay of 530 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:15.119 live oaks, of course because it's New Orleans, gorgeous, just 531 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:19.119 a really really special place. It was extensively damaged during 532 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.359 Hurricane Katrina. They thought that they might have to close. 533 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:26.200 But fortunately the Garden Conservancy, which is a wonderful organization 534 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.000 who is doing so much to preserve American gardens. And 535 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:32.640 we will talk more about the Garden Conservancy when and 536 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:35.880 if we eventually get to California. And we talked about 537 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:40.039 the Ruth Bancroft Garden, but extensive damage at Hurricane Katrina. 538 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.599 They thought they might have to shut it down or 539 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:44.160 you know, even demolish it. But the Garden Conservancy stepped in, 540 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:48.480 volunteers stepped in, and they were able to renovate the 541 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.799 gardens and it is open for you to visit today. 542 00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:56.839 Important to note there yes extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina. 543 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:01.759 They need help again, they need funds, they need volunteers 544 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:06.319 because they got belted this year. On June seventeen, am 545 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:09.799 hit by an EF one tornado and they are still 546 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:13.240 so there are parts of the garden that are currently closed. 547 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:20.000 They are open, but again they've sustained damage just recently 548 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:25.039 so what a wonderful place, fascinating you look at the 549 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:27.720 vista and the oaks. It makes me think of Gone 550 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.359 with the Wind. 551 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.839 Yes, and this was Yeah, this was a new home 552 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:33.440 that they commissioned in sort of their own unique style, 553 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:37.160 rather than take over some place that had been around 554 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.720 for a really long time. And I do want to 555 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.559 say I'm glad you brought that up about the tornado 556 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:43.440 because a lot of times, depending on who you're traveling with, 557 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:46.160 you go to these gardens and you might see in 558 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:48.519 an admission fee that gives you a little bit of 559 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:52.720 a sticker shock. But cards are not easy to maintain. 560 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:55.119 Any of us can tell you that. I think we're 561 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:59.440 preaching to the choir here, and you know, having horticulturists 562 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:02.519 who know what they're doing, and having people, you know, 563 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:05.160 buying plants and the labor and all of. 564 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:08.240 Them maintaining herbariums and that sort of thing. Yes, so 565 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.640 very important. 566 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:12.920 So don't let something like a tornado at long if 567 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:15.039 you stop you from visiting. They need your money more 568 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.920 than ever, so please do make an effort. And the 569 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.440 house is open to you. So it's not just the garden, 570 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.839 because obviously if the house and garden are connected. You've 571 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:22.400 got to see the garden from the house. You can't 572 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.759 just see the house from the garden. 573 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:27.000 Yeah. Oh, and by the way, got to mention this 574 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:31.079 because I've driven through there. If you're going to visit Longview. 575 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:35.119 Right nearby is the National World War Two Museum. 576 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.799 Oh yeah. 577 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:38.799 And some people would question why is the World War 578 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:44.480 Two Museum in New Orleans not in Washington or someplace 579 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:48.279 like that. And it's because of mister Higgins who the 580 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:52.279 Higgins boats of World War Two. It was Dwight Eisenhower 581 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:56.559 who said it was Higgins boats that won the war 582 00:31:56.759 --> 00:32:00.720 for them, these these landing crafts that allowed them to 583 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:04.400 put troops on shore distant shores. So that's why the 584 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:09.440 World War II National World War Two Museum is there. 585 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:12.160 Andrew Jackson Higgins of New. 586 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:15.440 Orleans, I did not know that. All right, All right, 587 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:18.000 now we are going to take a big leap north 588 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.119 to the Missouri Botanic Garden. Have you been to the 589 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:21.039 Missouri Botanic. 590 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:24.279 Gary, Yes, I have, and the place is huge. Yeah, 591 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:27.599 have your good walking shoes ready to go. 592 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:29.559 Try to go on a nice day when it's not 593 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.640 you know, one hundred some degrees. 594 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:34.440 But it is. Yeah, that's true, it can get very 595 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:37.960 warm there, but it's important that we touch on it 596 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:42.200 because it's I'm told, one of the nation's oldest botanical gardens, 597 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:44.240 open to the public in eighteen fifty nine. 598 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:46.960 Yeah. So it was founded by a private citizen who 599 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.920 was out, you know, riding his horse, and said, hey, 600 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:53.079 this looks like a fine prospect. Yeah, and kind of 601 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:57.359 staked his claim and built various structures. In addition to 602 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:01.880 being one of the nation's oldest continuously functioning botanical gardens, 603 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:06.200 the eighteen eighty two Lineean House, a very old greenhouse, 604 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:09.160 is one of the oldest continuously operating greenhouses in the US. 605 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:12.200 And now I looked at pictures of this whatever you 606 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:14.960 know picture you have in your mind's eye as a greenhouse, 607 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:17.319 get it out of there and look up the line 608 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:20.240 In house, because it is like nothing else I have 609 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:23.720 ever seen. It is so cool and so interesting, and 610 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:28.720 really I think says a lot about how steel, for example, 611 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:32.240 has changed the way that we can build. And then 612 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:35.839 when you see the actual conservatory, the newer, you know, 613 00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:39.519 more contemporary conservatory at the Missouri Botanic Garden, what you 614 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:41.799 will notice is that it was one of the first 615 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:45.440 conservative conservatories built without internal pillars. 616 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:48.240 Yeah, it's fascinating. I think they call it the climate. 617 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:52.640 Trun yes, yeah, which does not do it justice. But 618 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:56.039 it doesn't have internal pillars, so you don't have these big, 619 00:33:56.599 --> 00:34:01.480 you know, structural pillars kind of impede your views across 620 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:05.160 these very you know climate domes that they have for 621 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.920 all of the different areas. And that's something that's so 622 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:09.320 you know, natural to us. Now, of course it can 623 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.199 be built that way, but for it's time, it was 624 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:14.639 truly revolutionary, and especially when you contrast that with the 625 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.360 Linnaean House. Now, one of the things that I think 626 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:19.960 is most important about the Missouri Botanic Garden, whether or 627 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:22.639 not you live within driving distance or will be driving 628 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:27.639 by it to visit, it is by far one of 629 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:30.719 the absolute best resources for North American home gardeners. 630 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:34.800 You've got it for home gardening, the plant Finder resource, 631 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:38.719 all of that type of thing, the support that they provide. 632 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:44.079 They're committed to conservation science, awareness of plants. You bet. 633 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:46.840 Yeah, it's such a great website. I can tell you 634 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:49.679 I rely on it personally all the time to get 635 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:54.280 accurate information and to help me understand plants better. And 636 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:56.280 so whether or not you ever get to visit the 637 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:59.639 Missouri Botanic Garden. Definitely visit their website. You may have 638 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:02.320 already visited it just because you searched for a plant 639 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:04.679 question and it came up. But I think one of 640 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:06.679 the best things that they are doing in their role 641 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:08.840 is quote the Nation's Botanic Garden, because that is kind 642 00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:13.000 of their sub headline. There is just providing us reputable 643 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:18.239 scientific information about plants and how to grow them that you. 644 00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:21.559 Can trust exactly. Oh and tied into that because you know, 645 00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:24.400 I love bulbs. They do a great job with bulbs, 646 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:28.559 spring and summer bulbs. Because now we've moved far enough 647 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:33.480 north into Missouri where they can do that, and wow, fabulous. 648 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:35.639 All right, we already have to take another Breakay, we 649 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:38.360 only got to two gardens. All right, We're going to 650 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:40.719 do that and when we come back, we'll have to 651 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:42.199 finish up the show. But we've got a couple more 652 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:50.599 great ones for you, so stay tuned. Thanks for listening 653 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:53.280 to the Gardening Simplified podcast, brought to you by Proven 654 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:56.440 Winners Color Choice Shrubs. Our award winning flowering shrubs and 655 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:59.639 evergreens are trialed and tested by experts with your success 656 00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:04.559 in mind. Learn more at Proven Winnerscolor Choice dot Com. 657 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:08.079 Welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. So much to 658 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:10.559 talk about, so little time to talk about it. As 659 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:13.239 a matter of fact, next week we'll go to Chicago, 660 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:17.639 the City of Big Shoulders Carl Sandberg, and boy, there 661 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:21.360 are some great gardens in the Chicago area. But Stacey, 662 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:24.760 let's jump over to where are we going Minnesota? 663 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:29.360 Well, first, we're actually going to Indianapolis, Indiana. Yes, yeah, yeah, Now, 664 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:31.719 this is a garden that not a lot of people 665 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:33.079 have heard of it. In fact, the only reason I 666 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:35.440 had heard of it was because one of my colleagues 667 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:38.599 from horticulture school used to be the horticulturists there, and 668 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:41.519 unfortunately I never got around to visiting her, which I 669 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:43.320 very much regret because she has since moved to a 670 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:48.400 wonderful garden in Maine. But Minnetrista was founded as the 671 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:53.119 home of the Ball family, as in Ball Job. Yes, 672 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:57.000 so they were originally founded in Buffalo, New York, and 673 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:59.280 the whole family, all the brothers, all five of them 674 00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:03.599 I think there were up and moved to Muncie, Indiana, 675 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:06.760 just sort of north east of Indianapolis, and they all 676 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:10.800 built homes on this big property to run their glass 677 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:16.119 jar empire, but they were all into gardening and eventually 678 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:19.559 transitioned the garden to the public as a public garden, 679 00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:22.559 so you can still see many of the Ball family's 680 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:27.000 original homes. There's all sorts of different unique gardens there, 681 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:31.119 sort of Midwestern home educated home gardening education and that 682 00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:36.079 kind of thing. But what really fascinated me as part 683 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:38.400 of the American story, even though this isn't directly related 684 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:43.960 to gardens, it kind of is. Minnietrista is where the 685 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:48.880 Bob Ross Painting Show was films Wow, and it is 686 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:52.519 the only Bob Ross museum, the official Bob Ross museum 687 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:56.440 where you can actually see his paintings. You can see 688 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:58.719 the studio where the show was filmed, because this is 689 00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:01.519 actually in one of the homes of the Ball family, 690 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:04.239 so that's where they set up the studio. You can 691 00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:06.599 see his palette, you can see his paint brushes and 692 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:08.840 all of this other wonderful stuff. So it's one of 693 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:12.360 those gardens that you know, like we all have ball 694 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:14.360 jars in our house, right, Like you can't even if 695 00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:16.199 you don't, can you don't not have a ball jar 696 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:17.639 in your house, you can't avoid it. I think it's 697 00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:21.760 like a requisite of being in a arrangement exactly. And 698 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:24.679 so it was founded, you know, on those glass jars, 699 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:26.880 and then then we get Bob Ross in here. So 700 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.159 just you know, America a land of contrasts. 701 00:38:30.280 --> 00:38:33.800 Yes, happy birthday. 702 00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:38.159 You know what. Speaking of birthdays, it's our two hundred show. 703 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:44.800 That's right, episode number two hundred. Not quite as old 704 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:46.599 as the United States. 705 00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:52.039 No, not in episode years, in episode years. Yeah, So congratulations, 706 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:56.679 a congratulations. I can't believe we've made it two hundred shows. 707 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:58.840 That's awesome. Yeah, all right, Well we are going to 708 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:01.440 take a quick d two were we're not going in 709 00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:03.559 great geographical order, but there was too much to say 710 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:05.920 about Chicago's We're going to say that for next week. 711 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:09.239 But we're going to be staying here in Michigan with 712 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:11.400 the One the Only bell Isle. 713 00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:14.559 Yeah, and you can visit it. You're not going to 714 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:18.559 have an entry fee to visit the beautiful Nature Center 715 00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:22.199 and the Pete Odolph Garden there. You will have to 716 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:26.679 pay to drive drive there. There's a state park. 717 00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:27.920 Yeah, it's a state park. So if you have a 718 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:30.280 state park fee, if you have a state park pass 719 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:33.159 on your license plate, you can go there for free. Now, 720 00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:35.960 Belle Isle is a place that's truly near and dear 721 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.320 to my heart. My grandparents grew up in the Detroit area, 722 00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:40.400 so it was a place that they took us a lot. 723 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:42.400 It was the first public garden that I was ever 724 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:45.760 at in my entire life. I clearly remember my very 725 00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:50.719 first visit to the beautiful Anna Script's Whitcomb Conservatory with 726 00:39:50.760 --> 00:39:54.079 my grandma, and it is still just as beautiful and wonderful. 727 00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:56.559 But when I was reading about the history of Belle Isle, 728 00:39:56.880 --> 00:40:00.519 I found out something really interesting. So it was originally 729 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:04.320 called Swan Island by the unnish Nabe people of Detroit, 730 00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:08.639 and it was its formation was attributed to Sleeping Bear. 731 00:40:08.679 --> 00:40:10.800 Of course, we all know about Sleeping Bear dunes up north. 732 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:14.039 Sleeping Bear was the spirit he protected his daughter by 733 00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:16.639 keeping her in a wooden box. Unlike Michigan. Now, for 734 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:19.440 those of you who are not native Michiganders or aren't 735 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:22.159 familiar with what Michigan looks like, Michigan looks like this. 736 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:26.239 So Belle Isle is over here in the river between 737 00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:29.280 Canada and Detroit, way over here by the thumb, kind 738 00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:32.719 of like Michigan is over here where we are. So 739 00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:36.519 it's pretty interesting to me that this, you know, group 740 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:40.440 of Native Americans had the you know, this mythology over 741 00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:43.039 clear over on the other side of the state. So 742 00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:45.880 Sleeping Bear was protecting his daughter over on like Michigan. 743 00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:47.800 No one could get to her. The north and west 744 00:40:47.800 --> 00:40:50.960 winds fought for her. It created a huge storm. It 745 00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:53.039 swept up the box that he was keeping her in. 746 00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:56.280 Not a great dad move, I don't think. Pieces of 747 00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:58.800 it lodged at the mouth of the Detroit River and 748 00:40:58.840 --> 00:41:02.440 they became one on another Swan island because of all 749 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:05.719 of the swans, And the legend says that the daughter 750 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:09.960 still inhabits the island in the form of a white dough. 751 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:13.440 So if you were ever on Belle Isle and you 752 00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:16.880 see a white dough, I don't know what to tell you, 753 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:19.719 but it would be fascinating. There used to be deer 754 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:21.760 around on the island. I remember that from when I 755 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:24.000 was a kid. But the thing about Belle Isle, as 756 00:41:24.039 --> 00:41:26.719 far as it being a contemporary gardener, an important garden, 757 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:30.280 it was designed by the one, the only, Frederick Law Olmsted, 758 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:32.920 because of course it was so it's really hard, I think, 759 00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:39.039 to explain how in demand Frederick law Olmsted became after 760 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:42.280 Central Park, like nobody could get enough of the guy. 761 00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:45.679 This guy could not get to enough places. Every single 762 00:41:45.719 --> 00:41:49.119 city wanted their own version of Central Park, and I 763 00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:51.960 think it became basically like a bidding war to try 764 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:54.320 to get Frederick law Olmsted to come and do a 765 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:55.079 project in your. 766 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:58.840 City, because Belle Isle is considered Detroit's backyard. 767 00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:02.039 Yes, yes, and so it served very much a similar 768 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:06.360 role that Central Park did, which was fresh air and 769 00:42:06.440 --> 00:42:10.400 recreation for a burgeoning urban industrial climate. I mean, you 770 00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:12.840 have to remember back in eighteen seventy nine when bell 771 00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:15.639 Isle was founded as a public park. You know, just 772 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:18.599 try to think about everything that was happening. All the industry. 773 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:21.599 Detroit was making, stoves, Detroit was making I can't even 774 00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:24.760 list all of the things. This was well before automobiles even, 775 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:30.159 but Detroit was a massive industrial capital and it probably stunk. 776 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:33.719 It was dirty, absolutely, it was stinky. Everybody was working 777 00:42:33.719 --> 00:42:36.400 in factories. So to have this place that if you've 778 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:39.239 ever been there, right, it's close ish to the city, 779 00:42:39.239 --> 00:42:40.960 but it's not in the city, so you're far enough 780 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:42.639 away that you can kind of get some fresh air. 781 00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:46.440 It's in the river. And so he designed it it's 782 00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:51.920 very different than Central Park, but some beautiful original features 783 00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:55.039 like that gorgeous fountain. The bridge over to Belle Isle 784 00:42:55.159 --> 00:42:59.480 is so so lovely and really, I think, and this 785 00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:01.320 is true of of many of the gardens that we've 786 00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:04.039 talked about, and even just when we talked about Longview today, 787 00:43:04.679 --> 00:43:08.519 that feeling of transition, you know, when you're going down 788 00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:11.400 the long drive at Longview Gardens, when you're crossing the 789 00:43:11.400 --> 00:43:14.920 bridge at Belle Isle, it starts to prepare you for 790 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:19.000 this really different experience that you're going to have, you know, 791 00:43:19.079 --> 00:43:23.000 while you are in that garden. So it really does that. Now. 792 00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:25.800 The Antascripts Whitcomb Conservatory was opened in nineteen oh four. 793 00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:30.119 It is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the US. 794 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:33.719 It has something that not enough if you ask me 795 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:38.880 public garden conservatories have. It has a fern grotto. Have 796 00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:41.119 you been there? Have you been to the. 797 00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:43.000 Remember? 798 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:46.199 Oh my gosh, it is just Adriana knows what I'm 799 00:43:46.199 --> 00:43:48.679 talking about because she's from the Detroit area too. It 800 00:43:48.800 --> 00:43:50.960 is extraordinary and it's small, like I don't want to 801 00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:52.400 build it up for people and they go, oh, is 802 00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:54.880 that all there is? And I will say both and 803 00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:57.840 our other coworkers who are from Detroit had this similar experience. 804 00:43:58.239 --> 00:44:00.800 It's just a magical little space. Now, when I was young, 805 00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:02.440 you could actually go down there. Now you can only 806 00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:05.599 kind of look over it. But it is a fern 807 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:09.840 collection and it's very much in keeping with this nineteen 808 00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:12.719 oh four style. And so many of these old conservatories 809 00:44:12.719 --> 00:44:17.039 and gardens they kind of update, right they they become 810 00:44:17.280 --> 00:44:20.519 more contemporary, they make changes. They say, oh, ferneries, you know, 811 00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:24.039 that's so nineteen oh four. But they've really maintained it 812 00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:28.840 and it is just an extraordinarily beautiful special place. There's 813 00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:31.119 really I've been to gardens all over the world, and 814 00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:35.159 the fernery at the Antiscripts wo Come Conservatory will always 815 00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:38.320 have an extra special place in my heart. And you know, 816 00:44:38.360 --> 00:44:40.719 the conservatory itself is built so interestingly rout with a 817 00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:41.519 fish pond around it. 818 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:45.880 Yes, And part of what makes bell Isle so special 819 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:48.639 to me is Pete Odolf. And when we go to 820 00:44:48.719 --> 00:44:52.280 Chicago next week, we'll talk about the Leury Garden three 821 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:58.800 acre perennial garden there, thirty two thousand hardy perennials and grasses. 822 00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:03.960 Of course, Pete love to use ornamental grasses as structure 823 00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:07.880 within a garden, So that's a great garden to visit there. 824 00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:10.000 Also it makes up three acres there. 825 00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:12.079 Yeah, and it's right in front of the conservatory, so 826 00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:13.800 you don't have to go all over bell Isle to 827 00:45:13.840 --> 00:45:17.000 see all of the wonderful gardens. I have not been 828 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.800 there to see the Pete Udolph Garden yet. I know 829 00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:21.039 it was off to a very slow start. Initially it 830 00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:22.920 was delayed by funding and bell Isle has been a 831 00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:25.360 place that has been be set by a bunch of 832 00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:27.159 different problems like that. But it seems like it's on 833 00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:30.480 the right track now. It's absolutely worth a visit. And 834 00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:35.239 so it was beset from initially funding problems, then COVID, 835 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:40.119 then flooding correct and then finally it has come to fruition. 836 00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:42.760 And I'm sure it's still establishing because it's been around 837 00:45:42.760 --> 00:45:43.599 maybe three or four years. 838 00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:46.880 It's establishing. But it's the first public garden to incorporate 839 00:45:46.960 --> 00:45:52.280 all three of Odolf's iconic planting styles, block matrix and 840 00:45:52.519 --> 00:45:57.199 group planting. And again, I love Pete Odolph because he 841 00:45:57.360 --> 00:46:01.079 sounds just like my ninety six year old there. It's 842 00:46:01.199 --> 00:46:03.559 Dutch accent. I just love it. Amazing. 843 00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:05.280 Is your dad as stylish as Peterodolpha. 844 00:46:05.400 --> 00:46:06.480 No, no, no. 845 00:46:06.760 --> 00:46:10.239 He's very stylish. And as you said, there's a Carolon 846 00:46:10.480 --> 00:46:14.039 on Bellisle. Bellisle really is almost like, you know, compared 847 00:46:14.079 --> 00:46:17.400 to Central Park, which is kind of very sublime and massive, 848 00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:20.480 and you have these moments of you know, even though 849 00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:22.440 you're in the city, just kind of being lost in nature. 850 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:24.880 You never really lose that sense of connection to the 851 00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:28.800 city in Detroit or at bell Isle, but it's still 852 00:46:28.840 --> 00:46:31.360 there's just so much to do, and there is Carolin. 853 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:35.760 It's the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the US, and 854 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:38.800 I love and Adriana is cheering on the bell Isle 855 00:46:38.840 --> 00:46:41.199 Aquarium as well. If you grew up with a bell 856 00:46:41.239 --> 00:46:43.599 Isle aquarium, there's just no substitute for it. I know, 857 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:45.519 probably a lot of people would visit it and go 858 00:46:45.800 --> 00:46:48.039 like really, but for those of us who grew up 859 00:46:48.039 --> 00:46:51.679 with it, it is truly an extraordinary place. And just 860 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:53.679 you know, I'm not just saying this because it meant 861 00:46:53.679 --> 00:46:56.320 a lot to me personally, but Michigan does not have 862 00:46:56.360 --> 00:46:58.079 a lot of public gardens by and large, you know, 863 00:46:58.239 --> 00:47:02.000 sadly we have very few compared to a lot of 864 00:47:02.039 --> 00:47:04.480 other states that we've been through where we've had multiple 865 00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:07.039 so we'll take what we can get, and I think 866 00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:09.079 that Belle Isle is definitely something that we can be 867 00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:09.480 proud of. 868 00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:14.480 Absolutely happy two hundredth episodes. 869 00:47:14.119 --> 00:47:17.280 Yes, happy two hundred Yeah. Well, Rick, I have to confess, 870 00:47:17.320 --> 00:47:19.159 I thought we'd get a lot farther in the episode 871 00:47:19.159 --> 00:47:21.559 today than we did, but you just can't stop us 872 00:47:21.559 --> 00:47:22.039 from having. 873 00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:23.679 Again just scratching the surface. 874 00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:27.039 I know we really are. As Adriana said, maybe this 875 00:47:27.159 --> 00:47:28.800 is just the show now. No, not really. We will 876 00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:32.239 eventually be back to our regularly scheduled programming with lots 877 00:47:32.280 --> 00:47:34.920 of good information about plants. But for now, we hope 878 00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:37.159 you pick out some gardens that you've heard about, spend 879 00:47:37.239 --> 00:47:40.000 a little time looking at them. Make sure you watch 880 00:47:40.039 --> 00:47:41.760 the YouTube version of the show so that you can 881 00:47:41.800 --> 00:47:43.199 see all the photos and that kind of thing that 882 00:47:43.239 --> 00:47:45.599 Adriana is including in the episode, so you can get 883 00:47:45.639 --> 00:47:48.880 a little flavor of all of the amazing places that 884 00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:52.840 we're talking about. So thanks Rick, thank you, thanks Adriana, 885 00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:54.000 and thanks to all of you. We hope you have 886 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:54.679 a wonderful week.