1 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: Broadcasting from Studio A. Here at proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,560 It's time for the Gardening Simplified Show with Stacy, Hervella, 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,679 me Rick Weist, and our engineer and producer Adrianna Robinson. 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,719 Today we continue our series on botanical gardens throughout the 5 00:00:18,879 --> 00:00:24,399 United States, and just thirty miles east of Studio A 6 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,039 is the Frederick Meyer Gardens and Sculpture Park with a 7 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:33,479 large tropical conservatory one hundred and fifty acre main campus. 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,359 It's real claimed the famous sculpture as a matter of fact, 9 00:00:37,359 --> 00:00:41,200 the American Horse, the Horse of Leonardo da Vinci sculpture 10 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,520 by Nina Akamu is the foundation of all the sculpture 11 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,920 that you find there at the Frederick Meyer Gardens in 12 00:00:50,079 --> 00:00:54,799 Grand Rapids, Michigan. But also currently they have a Chihuli 13 00:00:56,119 --> 00:01:01,960 Garden and Glass exhibit, as many botanical gardens have throughout 14 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,719 the United States. Stacey, I really enjoyed my visit in 15 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:12,159 Seattle to the Chihuli Garden and Glass grounds. Beautiful how 16 00:01:12,159 --> 00:01:16,959 they incorporate that glass into a landscape setting, and many 17 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,120 botanical gardens have. 18 00:01:18,439 --> 00:01:21,239 Speaker 2: It's a huge draw for people. They do really really 19 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,400 love it. And I did go to see some, not 20 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,760 all because I was with some people who quickly tired 21 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:28,879 of walking around the garden on a hot sunny day. 22 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,879 But I did see some of the Mayor Garden exhibit, 23 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,560 and I think they did a really nice job, I think, 24 00:01:33,599 --> 00:01:35,760 especially citing kind of the main piece in their new 25 00:01:35,799 --> 00:01:38,239 perennial garden. But you know, it makes me laugh what 26 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,879 you were talking about with Meyer Gardens. The Leonardo Horse, 27 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,200 which of course is like, it's a fascinating story. So 28 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,599 if you aren't familiar with it, and if you're not 29 00:01:45,599 --> 00:01:49,000 from Michigan, you may not be very interesting story. And 30 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,719 it was an epic project, right, so to reproduce this massive, 31 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,280 massive horse that was originally designed by Leonardo da Vinci. 32 00:01:56,319 --> 00:01:58,519 And you go there and it's just the significant thing. 33 00:01:58,719 --> 00:02:02,480 And every single child she goes anywhere near this horse 34 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,640 is just rolling down the hill. Yes, that is like 35 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:09,520 the primary is the primary attraction of the horse is 36 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,159 every single kid running up that hill and rolling down 37 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,560 all day long. And it's just one of those things 38 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,080 that kind of makes you realize, no matter what you 39 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,039 put out there, the kids are going to find their 40 00:02:20,039 --> 00:02:21,000 own entertainment. 41 00:02:21,319 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: You've got it, you've got it. Well, let's jump in 42 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:27,560 a boat and travel across Lake Michigan, and our first 43 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,719 stop is going to be in Chicago Millennium Park. The 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,000 Lewie Garden one of the great new public spaces of 45 00:02:34,159 --> 00:02:36,879 the twenty first century. Of course, Stacey, I love it 46 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,840 because of Pete Odolph and the meadow type feel that 47 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:47,000 you get in this garden, the iconic Shoulder Hedge Carl 48 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,120 Sandberg and the city of Big Shoulders, and the garden 49 00:02:51,199 --> 00:02:55,879 is essentially split into two areas, and the division is 50 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,599 something they call the seam, which they have been working 51 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:04,360 on making repairs. I think maybe it has just reopened. 52 00:03:04,479 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: I know it doesn't reopen until September, Okay, which I'm 53 00:03:08,439 --> 00:03:11,319 actually really grateful for this episode that I researched that 54 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,520 because I was thinking about going to Chicago soon and 55 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,319 the Lury Garden is always always a must visit, yes 56 00:03:16,479 --> 00:03:18,840 for me. And it's actually not going to be open 57 00:03:18,879 --> 00:03:22,280 until September. It's been closed since March second. And yeah, 58 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,039 the seam or and this is a common feature of 59 00:03:25,199 --> 00:03:29,520 Udolph's gardens that he has this sort of public water 60 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,439 feature for cooling off. The high Line also has something 61 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,400 like that. Uh, And I believe one thing that both 62 00:03:35,439 --> 00:03:38,400 of those features, unfortunately have in common is perpetual issues 63 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,000 working properly. The whole question, and the seam has not 64 00:03:42,039 --> 00:03:44,680 been working properly in the many, many years I've been 65 00:03:44,719 --> 00:03:47,400 visiting the Lury Garden. So I'm grateful that they're taking 66 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,599 the opportunity to get it done. But the Lury Garden, 67 00:03:49,639 --> 00:03:51,639 like I said, it's always a must visit, one of 68 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,439 the things I look forward to most when I'm in 69 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,879 Chicago and my favorite thing. Right So, we're coming from 70 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,199 Michigan to Chicago. A little bit of time different there. 71 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,479 Chicago's an hour behind us. They're in Central time, We're 72 00:04:02,479 --> 00:04:05,120 in Eastern. So I always wake up early because I'm 73 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,960 on Michigan time, and the Loury Garden opens up at 74 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,560 six am, and you know, you get up and you 75 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:14,199 get out of the hotel and you go to the 76 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,720 Louriy Garden. You're the first one there, and it is 77 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,680 just such a magical moment. And just said to be 78 00:04:22,759 --> 00:04:23,920 in that garden. 79 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:24,199 Speaker 3: At any time. 80 00:04:24,199 --> 00:04:25,879 Speaker 2: And I've been there when it's been super crowded, I've 81 00:04:25,879 --> 00:04:27,639 been there when it's raining and it's dead, I've been 82 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,560 there in all sorts of weather, and I just love it. 83 00:04:30,399 --> 00:04:32,199 But That is always something that I look forward to 84 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,360 most of my visits to Chicago, getting up early and 85 00:04:34,399 --> 00:04:37,519 getting out there and seeing it at sunrise. It was 86 00:04:37,519 --> 00:04:41,480 actually Udolph's first commissioned US gardens, Yes, and he has 87 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,560 obviously he's you know, we talked about how Frederick Law Olmsted, 88 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:48,079 after he designed Central Park, became like the guy everybody 89 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,560 needed an Olmstead in their city. I think Udolph has 90 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,639 had a similar effect with the garden. Once everybody saw 91 00:04:55,639 --> 00:04:57,959 what he had done in Millennium Park and sort of 92 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,120 how his very Dutch planting style translated to the US, 93 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,439 everybody wanted a noodle. So then he got to the 94 00:05:04,519 --> 00:05:06,040 Highline and people ask us, hey, why didn't you cover 95 00:05:06,079 --> 00:05:08,399 the high Line? So yeah, he's done a beautiful job 96 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:11,120 in the high Line and Bellisle and lots of other 97 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:17,160 gardens across the US. But it's just it's a very 98 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,279 unique garden in its setting and its design. And I 99 00:05:21,319 --> 00:05:24,240 can't tell you how many times I think, almost every 100 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,720 time I have been there again, in all sorts of 101 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:31,920 weather and seasons, there's always someone who walks through. As 102 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:35,519 I'm sitting there breathlessly like taking pictures of everything, someone 103 00:05:35,519 --> 00:05:37,839 who walks through and goes, oh, I guess we missed 104 00:05:37,879 --> 00:05:38,959 the peak of this garden. 105 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: Oh my, And I'm glad you brought that up because 106 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:48,480 Pete will talk about the fact that he doesn't necessarily 107 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,800 use the word sustainability. He uses the word durability, and 108 00:05:52,959 --> 00:05:58,079 he appreciates and celebrates all four seasons, even when these 109 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,839 perennials are grasses are in there off season, are their winter. 110 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: Seats, and you know, it really shows. But I think 111 00:06:03,959 --> 00:06:07,040 that for a lot of people who aren't accustomed to 112 00:06:07,079 --> 00:06:11,279 seeing gardens that way, it is a mental shift in 113 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,560 what you're seeing. You know, this is not the type 114 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,120 of garden. It's going to be that like, neatly manicured, 115 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:21,399 perennial border type of thing where you know that a 116 00:06:21,399 --> 00:06:22,959 lot of people have in mind when they have and 117 00:06:23,319 --> 00:06:27,079 when they think of gardens. It's quite different. But it 118 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:28,959 has a ton of symbolism in it. You've already talked 119 00:06:28,959 --> 00:06:29,920 about that with a seam. 120 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: And flash for these people. Chicago wasn't neat and tidy 121 00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:37,000 either before we got to this point. I mean, it's 122 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,199 the perfect example of an urban garden, right. 123 00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: And that is actually Chicago's city motto is Herbs and 124 00:06:43,439 --> 00:06:47,920 horto a city and a garden nice and also the 125 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,800 word Chicago. And there's great dozents at the Lurry Garden 126 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,959 and they always have lots of interesting information to share. 127 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,759 But the word Chicago comes from the algonk one language 128 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:05,360 meaning stinking onions, So there are a number of Really, 129 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:07,399 of course, we all love aliums, and there's a lot 130 00:07:07,399 --> 00:07:09,680 of alums in the garden, and that's also typical of 131 00:07:09,759 --> 00:07:13,240 Odos gardens. But he went really went the extra mile 132 00:07:13,319 --> 00:07:17,360 with the aliums in the Lury Garden because of the 133 00:07:17,399 --> 00:07:19,439 stinking onion of Chicago. 134 00:07:20,079 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: Interesting and he makes sure to point that out. 135 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,319 Speaker 2: Yes, and so to the doses. But briefly before we 136 00:07:25,319 --> 00:07:28,360 move on from the Loury Garden, you know, if I 137 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:29,879 want an ady, I know, I'm sure we'll put this 138 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,439 into the b roll. So again, if you haven't been 139 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,959 watching the series on YouTube, you really should because she 140 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:39,600 is killing it, really bringing all these places alive before 141 00:07:40,079 --> 00:07:42,240 Millennium Park. So the Lury Garden is just one of 142 00:07:42,319 --> 00:07:45,560 many features in Millennium Park happens to be our favorite, 143 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,920 not surprisingly, although there's also wonderful plantings throughout the entire park, 144 00:07:48,959 --> 00:07:49,600 beautiful plants. 145 00:07:49,639 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: But everybody's going there to have a selfie by the. 146 00:07:52,199 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: Bean by the Bean the cloud Gate, Yes, but it 147 00:07:55,279 --> 00:07:57,360 was so when you see it now, it is such 148 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,279 a prominent place in Chicago there in the downtown area 149 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,439 and up until you know, in the late nineteen nineties 150 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,399 when they decided to transform it into a park, it 151 00:08:08,439 --> 00:08:10,399 was a parking lot and a railyard. 152 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,519 Speaker 3: It was completely. 153 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:18,199 Speaker 2: Useless, hideous space that actually took the city away from 154 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,040 the waterfront. And it's just wild to think of this, 155 00:08:21,959 --> 00:08:26,000 you know, really valuable space being so you know, detached 156 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,959 from the purposes of the city. 157 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 3: And all of that is still down there. 158 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: They actually built it so it's actually like a massive 159 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,679 rooftop garden basically is what Millennium Park is. And when 160 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,480 you see the before and after of this park, it 161 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,279 is shocking to really think of what was accomplished here 162 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,559 and how they transformed this into really the crown jewel 163 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,600 of Chicago. It's probably the number one attraction after you know, 164 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,360 maybe doing that thing where you go out on the 165 00:08:50,399 --> 00:08:52,720 ledge over this Year's Tower to Yes to look down, 166 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:53,879 which I've never done, but. 167 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,879 Speaker 1: Worth the are taking a walk on Navy Pier, but 168 00:08:59,159 --> 00:09:03,440 worth the experience, but also point well taken. If you're 169 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,279 going to go to a botanical garden, spend a little 170 00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:09,799 time understanding how it got there and what the history is. 171 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 2: You know, that is such an important part of everything 172 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,159 that we're talking about, is that, you know, gardens just 173 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:17,320 didn't crop up out of nowhere. There is a genesis 174 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,919 and a story behind them. And I think when you start, 175 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:22,759 you know, if you're able to kind of pinpoint that 176 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,399 before and after and think about everything that has happened, 177 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,200 you know, in that space to make it what it 178 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,440 is today, that's just a huge part I think of 179 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,519 you know, understanding and appreciating what you're seeing. 180 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:41,799 Speaker 1: You bet well, just outside of Chicago, a little ways 181 00:09:41,879 --> 00:09:45,879 down the road is Lyle, Illinois, and it moves us 182 00:09:45,879 --> 00:09:49,039 to the Morton Arboretum, And we're going to pick that 183 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,639 up in the next segment and run with it. The 184 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:57,159 Champion of Trees. Look forward to talking about this that's 185 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,960 coming up next here on the Gardening Simplified Show. 186 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,279 Speaker 2: Beautify your home and community with proven winner's color Choice 187 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:12,399 shrubs with over three hundred and twenty five unique varieties 188 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,080 to choose from. There's a flowering shrub or evergreen for 189 00:10:15,159 --> 00:10:18,320 every taste and every space. Just look for the distinctive 190 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,080 white container your local garden center or learn more at 191 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:26,440 proven Winners, color choice dot com. Greeting's gardening friends, and 192 00:10:26,639 --> 00:10:29,240 welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show, where we are 193 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:34,200 continuing our tour of North American gardens of remark. Aren't 194 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,240 getting to all of them because there's just too many, 195 00:10:36,279 --> 00:10:39,360 but some special ones that were, you know, significant to 196 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:44,879 American garden design, American history, or are just uniquely American 197 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,559 in some way or another. And again, there's so many 198 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,519 stories behind all of these, So if you're visiting, if 199 00:10:51,519 --> 00:10:53,440 you're going to be traveling around, make sure you visit them. 200 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,320 And if you're not, well, take a look at their 201 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,639 websites and spend some time learning all about them. Now 202 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,240 we are still in the show Chicago land area, and 203 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,360 we are about to visit one of Rick's all time favorites, 204 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,559 a garden I have not actually visited myself yet, be 205 00:11:09,879 --> 00:11:10,720 Morton Arboretum. 206 00:11:11,039 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: Morton Arboretum seventeen hundred acres, sixteen miles of hiking trails, 207 00:11:18,879 --> 00:11:22,039 and I think I've run all of them. We trained 208 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:25,879 there for the Chicago Marathon. I ran for the Morton Arboretum. 209 00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:29,879 A team raising money for the Morton Arboretum because of 210 00:11:29,919 --> 00:11:33,080 course they do tremendous work in the area of tree 211 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:37,240 research and trees. As a matter of fact, they're considered 212 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,639 the Champion of Trees. I brought this along for our 213 00:11:42,639 --> 00:11:46,480 YouTube viewers and you can see the singlet that I 214 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,200 wore when I ran the Chicago Marathon. It says right 215 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,000 on their Champion of Trees. So this is the singlet 216 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,480 that I wore and Stacey, it smell is really good, 217 00:11:56,519 --> 00:12:00,480 doesn't it. Can you smell it over there, Adriana? 218 00:12:00,799 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 3: I do believe that you've washed it. 219 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,399 Speaker 2: I don't think you would have been would be bringing 220 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,840 in the f I unless it's had lots to wash 221 00:12:06,879 --> 00:12:08,399 it or something washed it. 222 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:14,759 Speaker 1: But yeah. So Joy Morton again an industrial list in 223 00:12:14,799 --> 00:12:20,559 this case Morton saw and Joy Morton was had quite 224 00:12:21,039 --> 00:12:24,519 well a lineage, so to speak, because of Jay Sterling 225 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:28,600 Morton correct the Arbor Day Foundations. Yep, and that was 226 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:32,360 his dad Joy. By the way, I looked this up 227 00:12:32,799 --> 00:12:36,840 just out of interest. Joy. Only about one out of 228 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:41,000 every one hundred and forty three and twenty seven baby 229 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,720 boys born is given the name Joy. 230 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:46,399 Speaker 2: I am not surprised that it is not a more 231 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,440 popular name for boys. I had to look it up, 232 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,000 and you know, everyone's like, specifically, yes, this was a man. 233 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: Yes, But for people who are also interested in marketing, 234 00:12:57,759 --> 00:13:01,240 they are. Joy is can considered to have come up 235 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:04,720 with his team one of the best marketing campaigns ever 236 00:13:04,879 --> 00:13:07,759 in the history of marketing, and that is when it rains, 237 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:12,440 it pours, the iconic girl holding an umbrella, the salt 238 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,399 is spilling. The whole point being the salt pours even 239 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:19,840 when it's wet. Considered one of the best marketing campaigns. 240 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,759 Speaker 2: Ever, and it's such a memorable logo. I'm sure everybody 241 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,720 that is envisioning the little girl in their minds. I 242 00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:29,759 so Joy Morton brought in Charles Sprague Sergeant, who was 243 00:13:29,759 --> 00:13:32,080 the director of the Arnold Arboretam, which we went to 244 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,960 in Boston to consult on the construction and design of 245 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,320 the Morton Arboretum. And Charles Sprague Sergeant was an amazing 246 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,200 horticulturist in his own right, very very influential in the 247 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,480 world of crab apples, so developed a lot of those 248 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,159 varieties himself. A lot of people hear the word arboretum 249 00:13:51,759 --> 00:13:54,879 and they probably think they can't pronounce it, but they 250 00:13:54,919 --> 00:13:56,519 also just think it's going to be trees, and that's 251 00:13:56,519 --> 00:13:58,159 not the Morton Arboretam at all. I mean, it is 252 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,679 a tree centered organization, but they do so much more 253 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,879 than trees. There's actual, you know, gardens in the way 254 00:14:04,919 --> 00:14:06,279 that people think of gardens. 255 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:12,639 Speaker 1: As well, gardens, children's maze, tremendous grouping of oak trees, 256 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,399 but paths to walk. Yes, it's a beautiful place just 257 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:21,559 outside of Chicago and really worth visiting. And then if 258 00:14:21,559 --> 00:14:23,879 you go, if you go on the summertime, make sure 259 00:14:23,879 --> 00:14:27,559 to go to the Rosewood, Glencoe Tower Road, beach on 260 00:14:27,679 --> 00:14:31,039 Lake Michigan, wonderful Lake Michigan. And if you go to 261 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,840 the Morton Arboretum, I do suggest considering going in fall 262 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,720 because the fall colors are amazed. 263 00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 3: I'll bet they are. 264 00:14:37,919 --> 00:14:41,039 Speaker 2: And you know that area right now, Lyle, Illinois has 265 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,519 been for many years under extreme development. Yes, so we 266 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,919 can be so grateful for wealthy industrials like this who 267 00:14:49,039 --> 00:14:51,399 preserved that land and made sure it didn't all get 268 00:14:51,399 --> 00:14:54,519 turned into strip malls and subdivisions. And we have the 269 00:14:54,679 --> 00:14:57,000 wonderful Morton Arboretum to enjoy. 270 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 3: Well. 271 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: Speaking of areas under heavy development, how about the Chicago. 272 00:15:00,559 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: Oh boy. All right, let's go there. 273 00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 3: All right, So have you been there? 274 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: I have been there. 275 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, Yes, it's quite. 276 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,679 Speaker 2: A sprawling botanic garden. And it's actually quite new as well. 277 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:10,879 Speaker 1: You know. 278 00:15:10,879 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: I think a lot of the botanic gardens that we 279 00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:16,000 have mentioned so far have been very old, venerable types 280 00:15:16,039 --> 00:15:19,440 of institutions, and the Chicago Botanic Garden is quite new. 281 00:15:19,519 --> 00:15:24,279 So it was founded by the Chicago Horticultural Society and 282 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,600 they were quite influential in doing flower shows. So we 283 00:15:28,639 --> 00:15:30,600 haven't talked a lot about flower shows. We should probably 284 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,399 do an episode on that because that'd be very interesting. 285 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,480 But flower shows were all the rage, you know, back 286 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,000 in the day, and they would have a specific theme 287 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,279 and everybody would bring their daily or their rose and 288 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:42,919 there would everybody would look at them, and they would 289 00:15:42,919 --> 00:15:45,840 give awards for the best one. Yes, Dahlia is a 290 00:15:45,879 --> 00:15:49,720 another great example. So the Chicago Horticultural Society, their third 291 00:15:49,799 --> 00:15:53,679 show ever was the Chrysanthemum Show at the infamous World's 292 00:15:53,679 --> 00:15:57,960 Colombian Exposition in eighteen ninety three. Really, yes, that was 293 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,639 their very third show. So they did they could well 294 00:15:59,639 --> 00:16:02,679 obviously only part of the World's Columbia Exposition because it 295 00:16:02,759 --> 00:16:04,879 went for a long time, but that was their third 296 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,600 show ever. The Chicago Horticultural Society disbanded and they reformed 297 00:16:09,679 --> 00:16:13,039 in nineteen forty three and chartered the Chicago Botanic Garden 298 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,960 in nineteen sixty five. So in garden ages that is 299 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:21,840 very very recent, a lot of different themed gardens. Not 300 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,919 One of the things that I think surprised me most 301 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,279 about visiting the garden is that it does not have 302 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:32,120 like the one giant grand conservatory. The conservatory is actually 303 00:16:32,159 --> 00:16:34,799 quite modest, So this is definitely more of a garden 304 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,759 to visit during you know, nicer weather, when you can 305 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:40,519 walk the numerous paths and see all the numerous gardens. 306 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,000 I think one of the most important things that the 307 00:16:43,039 --> 00:16:47,840 Chicago Botanic Garden does is their plant trials. So they 308 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,720 have these plant trials that they conduct specifically for the 309 00:16:50,759 --> 00:16:53,879 industry and for home gardeners, and they publish these reports. 310 00:16:53,879 --> 00:16:56,440 So they'll take a specific genus or type of plant 311 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,600 and they will plant, you know, basically every variety they 312 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,519 can get their hands on in the market, and they 313 00:17:02,519 --> 00:17:04,599 will do a five plus year trial. I think it 314 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:06,839 depends obviously on whether it's a perennial or a shrub 315 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,440 and they will take extensive evaluation notes over this long 316 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,920 period being exposed to lots of different types of weather 317 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,759 and lots of different, you know, conditions, and then they 318 00:17:18,799 --> 00:17:22,200 give you a full report on their disease resistance, their 319 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,119 sem strength, their color, and so they're really doing a 320 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:31,279 very great job of presenting impartial information on a plant's performance, 321 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,119 especially in the Midwest. So please do look at the 322 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,559 Chicago Botanic Garden plant evaluation notes if you are if 323 00:17:37,559 --> 00:17:39,839 you know, if you're sick and tired of say, you know, 324 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,200 menada getting mildew in your garden every year, or flocks 325 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,599 getting powdery mildew in your garden. They have done a 326 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,319 trial and found the most resistant. So I think it's 327 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,559 another great service for home gardeners that they do. 328 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 1: That's important to know. 329 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 3: Thanks for sharing my swelling to those two. 330 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,559 Speaker 1: They see you mentioned sprawling. I looked it up. Three 331 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,160 hundred and eighty five acres. 332 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,559 Speaker 3: It's just a fraction of the Martin Arboretum. 333 00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:07,279 Speaker 1: But well, yeah, but and interesting all the islands. 334 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,599 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, the islands are very interesting. That is another 335 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,000 very unusual feature of it. So you're definitely gonna want 336 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:17,559 good walking shoes as you get around the Chicago Botanic Garden. 337 00:18:17,799 --> 00:18:20,799 Other interesting feature about the Chicago Botanic Garden. I don't 338 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:23,119 know if any other garden that does this. They do 339 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:26,160 not charge for admission, but they do charge for parking, 340 00:18:27,319 --> 00:18:30,480 so they have a very high parking fee. So this 341 00:18:30,519 --> 00:18:32,279 is the type of garden that you know. I'm all 342 00:18:32,279 --> 00:18:34,440 for visiting gardens by yourself, but this is the type 343 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,160 of garden you probably want to get a car load 344 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,720 full of your friends and family back for car make 345 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,319 sure that you're getting your money's worth, and then you're 346 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,319 you're in for free once you have parkes. So just 347 00:18:44,759 --> 00:18:48,359 a little oddball factoid there. As you're going to visit. Now, 348 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:51,240 we are going to continue to move west, and before 349 00:18:51,279 --> 00:18:55,720 we do, I did want to mention the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 350 00:18:55,839 --> 00:18:56,759 Speaker 1: I'm glad you are. 351 00:18:57,319 --> 00:18:58,519 Speaker 3: I have never been there. Have you been there? 352 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: I have not been there, but I know the significance. Yes. 353 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,519 Speaker 2: So the Minnesota Landscape Arboreta is part of the University 354 00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:08,240 of Minnesota. It is in Chaska, Minnesota, and it is 355 00:19:08,599 --> 00:19:13,079 the home of the now world famous honeycrisp apple. So 356 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,160 they are the ones who developed it. Right there at 357 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,519 the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and you know, honey crisp apple 358 00:19:18,599 --> 00:19:22,599 has completely transformed the apple industry in a way that 359 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:24,480 you know, I think a lot of people don't even 360 00:19:24,519 --> 00:19:28,200 really think back on anymore, just where it was and 361 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,000 where it is now. As a result of the work 362 00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:33,799 that they have done at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, they 363 00:19:33,799 --> 00:19:36,279 also there developed the Zest Star also known as the 364 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:40,200 Sweet Tango apples. So all of these apples are being 365 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:46,119 developed for enhanced Christmas, enhanced sweetness, and they're kind of 366 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,759 making apples that don't have those qualities obsolete. I mean, 367 00:19:49,799 --> 00:19:51,799 I know the place where we go apple picking up 368 00:19:51,839 --> 00:19:55,119 here in Sparta, Michigan. You know, I've been picking apples 369 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,599 there for twelve plus years and really have seen the 370 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,480 transition from of their from you know, older varieties to 371 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,640 all of these newer varieties that have a royalty. So 372 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:07,839 they work very similar to the proven Winners brand, where 373 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,599 you know, they're making sure that the breeder is compensated. 374 00:20:11,319 --> 00:20:14,359 They also have specific requirements for the fruit, you know, 375 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,000 for it to be sold as a honeycrisp, but has 376 00:20:16,039 --> 00:20:18,279 to be a certain size and quality and all of 377 00:20:18,279 --> 00:20:22,960 this so really changing the world of apples up there. 378 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,960 It is also the birthplace of the quote unquote Lights 379 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,000 Azalea series, and I love those. 380 00:20:28,079 --> 00:20:30,839 Speaker 1: I've always loved those deciduous azaleas right. 381 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 3: And hardy because Minnesota. 382 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:36,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've loved those. And then I'm excited. Proven Winners 383 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:40,599 Color Choice Shrubs. You have sweet Rewards, yes, as a decidion. 384 00:20:40,799 --> 00:20:45,799 Speaker 2: Those were developed in Georgia, so tho's a different yeah, 385 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:50,160 party deciduous azaleas. But of course the Minnesota, you know, 386 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,880 Twin Cities area is fully USA Zone four. So if 387 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,839 you need a very cold, hardy azalea, definitely look for 388 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,440 those Lights series. There is every color you could imagine, 389 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,519 every size, every shape. I think that they really I mean, 390 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:06,839 some of the varieties are easy to find in garden centers, 391 00:21:06,839 --> 00:21:09,880 but the entire series is really remarkable. So if you're 392 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,240 an azela fan in the cold, you can thank the 393 00:21:12,279 --> 00:21:16,200 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Now we're going to take a little break. 394 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,880 When we come back, we are going far from the 395 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:22,160 cold and into the heat of Austin, Texas, So please 396 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:32,400 stay tuned at Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. We know 397 00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:35,480 that a better landscape starts with a better shrub. Our 398 00:21:35,519 --> 00:21:38,599 team of experts tests and evaluates all of our flowering 399 00:21:38,599 --> 00:21:41,640 shrubs and evergreens for eight to ten years to ensure 400 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:45,680 they outperform what's already on the market. For easycare, reliable, 401 00:21:45,839 --> 00:21:49,559 beautiful shrubs to accentuate your home and express your personal style, 402 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,440 look for Proven Winners shrubs in the distinctive white container 403 00:21:52,599 --> 00:21:55,039 at your local garden center or learn more at proven 404 00:21:55,079 --> 00:22:00,680 Winner's Color Choice dot com readings. Gardening Friends, and welcome 405 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,480 back to the Gardening Simplified Show, where we are now 406 00:22:03,519 --> 00:22:07,640 finding ourselves in Austin, Texas, a far away from the 407 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:12,279 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum where we just were, for a garden 408 00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:15,000 that I have not yet visited, but I am absolutely 409 00:22:15,039 --> 00:22:19,000 fascinated by both for what they do and for the 410 00:22:19,039 --> 00:22:26,599 person who created this, be Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, 411 00:22:26,599 --> 00:22:30,759 an absolutely amazing lady. Now, I first have to say, 412 00:22:30,759 --> 00:22:32,680 and I already sent the pictures to Adrian because I 413 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,119 was like, I need you to have this in your 414 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,240 mind's eye when I talk about this on the show. 415 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,119 The portraits of Lady Bird Johnson in the fields of 416 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,680 wildflowers are some of the best things that I have 417 00:22:42,799 --> 00:22:45,880 ever seen in my life. I aspire to have a 418 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,279 photo of myself like these pictures, Adriana is promising me 419 00:22:49,319 --> 00:22:52,720 she'll do it. I mean the dress, the expression, the setting, 420 00:22:52,839 --> 00:22:55,440 everything about them. You could tell that she just had 421 00:22:55,680 --> 00:23:00,200 such an incredible passion for our native wildflowers, in our 422 00:23:00,279 --> 00:23:01,039 native plant life. 423 00:23:01,039 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: She looks like a first lady she does yeh. 424 00:23:03,279 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, and she truly was. 425 00:23:05,039 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 2: This is not something This is not just you know, 426 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,759 a first lady doing something first ladyish. She was born 427 00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:14,559 a native Texan and grew up just sort of roaming 428 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,160 the fields and you know, planes and everything around her 429 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,440 home and really kind of grew up as a child 430 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,559 of nature. So when she had the opportunity to put 431 00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:28,359 her stamp on something, it was definitely not just texass 432 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:35,039 but America's scenic byways. If you hate billboards, you can 433 00:23:35,079 --> 00:23:39,720 thank Lady Bird Johnson because her High Weight Beautification Act 434 00:23:40,319 --> 00:23:44,720 mandated planting wildflowers and limiting billboards. 435 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, what they were basically doing is trying to find 436 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,359 a balance of esthetic goals with commercial interests, and it 437 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,720 was a real problem at the time. I say it's 438 00:23:53,759 --> 00:23:55,680 still a problem. As a matter of fact. There's a 439 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,279 certain type of billboard I would love to see eradicated off. 440 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,039 But I won't down that road. Let's stick with the garden, right. 441 00:24:02,039 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: She didn't have any influence over what was on the billboard. 442 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,519 It's just limiting how many were out there. But she 443 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,799 was very, very passionate about native plants. The Lady Bird 444 00:24:10,839 --> 00:24:14,079 Johnson Wildflower Center was founded by Lady Bird Johnson and 445 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,039 actress Helen Hayes in nineteen eighty two as the National 446 00:24:18,599 --> 00:24:24,680 Wildflower Research Center, and it has since expanded from its 447 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:29,960 original forty two acres to two hundred and eighty four acres. Today, 448 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:35,240 it features over one thousand species of Texas native plants. Now, 449 00:24:35,519 --> 00:24:37,839 I think a lot of people maybe have a picture 450 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,200 of Texas in their minds ie, you know, based on 451 00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:45,400 whatever their impression or exposure to Texas was. But I 452 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,160 have been lucky enough to sort of I haven't been 453 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,400 to Austin, I've been down to Houston in San Antonio, 454 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,319 and I have to say, the plant life in Texas 455 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,160 is utterly fascinating. I mean, it is just an incredible 456 00:24:57,319 --> 00:25:00,319 array of desert plants. As we kind of move into 457 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,079 the desert and planes, it's just it's an amazing combination 458 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,119 of different things, and so you can kind of see 459 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,920 a lot of that at that in this one garden. 460 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,519 It's a sixteen acre arboretum with seventy acres of Texas 461 00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:19,000 native trees, seventy six acres of research plots, seventy six 462 00:25:19,039 --> 00:25:22,359 acres of research all thanks to Lady Bird Johnson and 463 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:25,319 her passion for the environment. I think you could really 464 00:25:25,319 --> 00:25:28,240 consider her as one of the early environmentalists, at least 465 00:25:28,279 --> 00:25:28,599 from a. 466 00:25:28,599 --> 00:25:32,519 Speaker 1: Policy absolutely, no question. She was someone that said, where 467 00:25:32,559 --> 00:25:34,599 flowers bloom, so does hope. 468 00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 3: Yes, very famous quote from her, And. 469 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: Speaking of the plants in that area or in Texas, 470 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,759 it could be argued the time to go would be 471 00:25:42,839 --> 00:25:44,079 March in April. 472 00:25:43,799 --> 00:25:46,319 Speaker 2: Yes, for spraying wildlife. That's when I was in Texas 473 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,839 and it was breathtaking, you know seeing I mean, I 474 00:25:48,839 --> 00:25:51,640 think gardeners probably at least have some awareness of the 475 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,720 Texas bluebonnets. That is sort of the pinnacle of Texas 476 00:25:54,799 --> 00:25:57,759 native plants. So you go in that timeframe and you 477 00:25:57,759 --> 00:25:59,559 should be lucky enough to see them. And the thing 478 00:25:59,559 --> 00:26:01,519 about when the blue bonnets bloom is it's not just 479 00:26:01,559 --> 00:26:05,880 the bluebonnets. There's all these other, you know, small wildflowers 480 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:10,000 mixed in there, and it's just breath taking it especially, 481 00:26:10,079 --> 00:26:11,920 you know, because everything's bigger in Texas. She just have 482 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,559 these massive fields of all of these wonderful flowers. So 483 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,000 you know, it was a huge gift for her. And 484 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,000 you know, she was always in the public eye. She's 485 00:26:20,039 --> 00:26:22,519 a fascinating person. I encourage you to read about her, 486 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:25,880 and I think this is a legacy that she would 487 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:30,200 certainly be very proud of, and it continues to give 488 00:26:30,319 --> 00:26:33,000 to all of us who are passionate about native plants, 489 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:34,720 because you know, we've been talking about how the Missouri 490 00:26:34,759 --> 00:26:38,039 Botanic Garden is such a great online resource for home gardeners, 491 00:26:38,039 --> 00:26:39,839 so even if you can't visit it, you're still getting 492 00:26:39,839 --> 00:26:41,519 something out of it. We just talked about that with 493 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,119 the Chicago Botanic Garden plant evaluation notes. And I think 494 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,559 that wildflower dot org, which is the sort of public 495 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,759 face of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, is the 496 00:26:52,839 --> 00:26:57,480 single most important native plant resource that gardeners have available 497 00:26:57,559 --> 00:26:59,799 to them right now. So it does it's not just 498 00:26:59,839 --> 00:27:03,440 how this native plants, it's native plants across the country, 499 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,440 and it's giving you, you know, the scientific name, it's 500 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,160 giving you where they're native to and the type of 501 00:27:09,279 --> 00:27:11,839 environment and We talk a lot about that on the show, right, 502 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,119 like how you need to know what types of environment 503 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,000 it is native to so you can best approximate that 504 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,640 in your garden. And it goes on to talk about 505 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,359 the pollinators and wildlife that each plant supports. So this 506 00:27:24,519 --> 00:27:26,759 is not just some you know rinky dank. Oh hey, 507 00:27:26,839 --> 00:27:30,359 here's a list of native plants, good luck. It really 508 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,720 helps you understand how to be a better plant native 509 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,559 plant gardener, and a better seward of your land and 510 00:27:36,599 --> 00:27:40,720 how to best support wildlife. So definitely wildflower dot org. 511 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:43,440 It should be in your bookmarks and frequently visited. And 512 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:45,960 if you ever even simply search for native plants, you've 513 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,559 probably inadvertently been there because they're just such a wealth 514 00:27:48,559 --> 00:27:50,880 of knowledge that they come up in pretty much every search. 515 00:27:51,039 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: An incredible website here here. I appreciate everything you said there, Stacey, 516 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:00,079 including learning more about Lady Bird Johnson. And if you 517 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,920 visit the area and you want to learn more about her, 518 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:07,319 it's just a twenty minute drive to the LBJ Presidential 519 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,160 Library and you can learn more about her. 520 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,400 Speaker 3: It's been a whole day down there. 521 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,799 Speaker 2: So while we were in Texas, there's a couple of 522 00:28:12,799 --> 00:28:13,720 other gardens you visited. 523 00:28:13,839 --> 00:28:16,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I've visited some gardens. Let's quickly go to 524 00:28:16,319 --> 00:28:20,359 Oklahoma City. Maybe take a look at the Myriad Botanical Garden, 525 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:25,039 and it's crystal Bridge. It's a crystal Bridge tropical conservatory. 526 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,319 Fun to visit. I've spent time in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and 527 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,880 you have the Tulsa Botanic Garden and this garden. What 528 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,839 was interesting to me is a big expanse of terraced gardens. 529 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,319 So we've done a show on layering and if you're 530 00:28:41,319 --> 00:28:44,400 into terraced gardens, maybe that's one for you to visit 531 00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:48,880 while you're in Tulsa. I had a blast at Woodward Park, 532 00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:54,160 which has the Carl Linaeus Teaching Garden. Since then, since 533 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,200 I was there, I think it was twenty eighteen, it's 534 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,400 no longer called the Carl Lineis Teaching Garden. Just call 535 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,799 it the Teaching Garden. But for our YouTube viewers to 536 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,119 show you, Adriana is going to drop in a picture 537 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,839 of me with the one and only Carl Linnaeus, a 538 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,880 selfie that we took together. So yeah, there you go. 539 00:29:14,079 --> 00:29:17,160 And then finally, if you go up to Omahaunt, Nebraska, 540 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,599 I visited the Loritzen Gardens. And the reason I bring 541 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,039 that up is there is a tree paeony garden, a 542 00:29:25,119 --> 00:29:28,079 garden that is devoted just to tree paeonies. And then 543 00:29:28,119 --> 00:29:32,519 again back to Austin. In Austin, the Zilker Botanical Garden. 544 00:29:32,559 --> 00:29:36,039 It's in the heart of downtown Austin. And I bring 545 00:29:36,119 --> 00:29:38,039 this one up because in our previous show we had 546 00:29:38,079 --> 00:29:41,359 talked about garden clubs yea, and it was fascinating to 547 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:46,039 me that this botanical garden they started fundraising in nineteen 548 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,759 forty six, the Violet Crown Garden Club set aside fifty 549 00:29:50,839 --> 00:29:55,680 dollars for a building project and then missus Alden Mabel 550 00:29:55,799 --> 00:29:59,000 Davis took it from there. All right, if you're in 551 00:29:59,039 --> 00:29:59,960 the area, check it out. 552 00:30:00,359 --> 00:30:03,799 Speaker 2: Yes, definitely, and shout out to all of those Oklahoma gardeners. 553 00:30:03,799 --> 00:30:06,240 You kind of have the worst of all worlds. You 554 00:30:06,319 --> 00:30:10,400 have cold winters, soper hot summers, and just you know, 555 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:14,599 I don't envy you, but I do appreciate your tenacity. 556 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:16,920 Now we are going to be heading over to California, 557 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,119 but before we do, I do want to talk briefly 558 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:24,119 about the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, I 559 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,160 was lucky enough to visit this place. I am pretty 560 00:30:26,839 --> 00:30:29,920 fanatic about cactian succulents. I've never lived in a climate 561 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,400 where I could grow them appreciably outside of Man. I 562 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:36,160 have some that I can grow here in Michigan. But 563 00:30:36,759 --> 00:30:40,319 you know, the whole entire landscape of Arizona is can 564 00:30:40,359 --> 00:30:42,559 simply be described as sublime. And that's what it is. 565 00:30:42,599 --> 00:30:45,759 To be in Arizona is to experience the sublime. It's 566 00:30:45,799 --> 00:30:48,640 really nothing like anything you've experienced if you've never been 567 00:30:48,759 --> 00:30:52,039 out there. And what I think is so fascinating about 568 00:30:52,039 --> 00:30:56,640 the Desert Botanic Garden is it is a botanical garden 569 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,640 of collections of cacti and succulent and desert plants from 570 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,759 around the world. But it is in the middle of 571 00:31:02,799 --> 00:31:06,200 this kind of mountain range and when you are there, 572 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:09,240 you just don't really know where the garden ends in 573 00:31:09,359 --> 00:31:13,119 nature starts because the landscape, it's just everything is so 574 00:31:13,279 --> 00:31:15,400 at home in the landscape, and every other botannic garden 575 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,519 that you go to, you know, you're seeing all these 576 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:19,880 plants that don't necessarily look at home. And you know, 577 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,200 the plains of Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden, which would 578 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,359 be prairie and instead you have you know, sort of 579 00:31:24,359 --> 00:31:26,359 English borders and a Japanese garden and all of these 580 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:29,480 different things, whereas when you are in the Desert Botanic Garden, 581 00:31:29,559 --> 00:31:31,839 you are in the desert. 582 00:31:32,079 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: That's an interesting observation. 583 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: It feels very different when you're there. It's really really cool, 584 00:31:37,119 --> 00:31:40,720 just a beautiful place. It is one of the most 585 00:31:40,759 --> 00:31:46,680 important research centers for desert plants in general and for 586 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:50,640 desert plant conservation because so many desert plants are threatened 587 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:53,839 by so many different things. So it's truly a special place. 588 00:31:53,839 --> 00:31:55,319 And I know there's lots of reasons that people go 589 00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:59,319 to Arizona for, you know, snowbirding or whatever. Please make 590 00:31:59,359 --> 00:32:00,880 sure if you are in in the area to put 591 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,200 the Desert Botanical Garden on your list. You will not 592 00:32:04,039 --> 00:32:07,240 regret it. It is really a special and unique place. 593 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,559 And you know, I think speaking of special and unique 594 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:13,440 in American plants in gardening, a lot of people don't 595 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:17,480 realize that cactus are only native to North and South America. 596 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,319 They are not found anywhere else in the world and 597 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:24,920 are only found in the Americas. So they really are 598 00:32:25,079 --> 00:32:28,799 kind of a very special plant and unique to us 599 00:32:28,839 --> 00:32:32,799 that deserve a lot of appreciation. A lot of people think, 600 00:32:32,799 --> 00:32:36,200 of course, is saguaros is kind of the emblematic desert plant. 601 00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:39,839 But they're only native to this sort of limited range 602 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:43,039 in Arizona. But in that range you will see them everywhere. 603 00:32:43,079 --> 00:32:46,319 They are not rare, they're just limited. So just I 604 00:32:46,359 --> 00:32:49,400 think an incredible part of the country that if you 605 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,640 haven't been able to visit it yet, whether you're a 606 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:53,559 nature lover or an animal love or a plant lover, 607 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,000 this is the place to be. So we're going to 608 00:32:57,039 --> 00:32:58,680 take a little break. When we come back. We are 609 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:00,880 heading out to California. We are going to strike it 610 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:12,079 rich An, Thanks for listening to the Gardening Simplified Podcast, 611 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,920 brought to you by Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. Our 612 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,000 award winning flowering shrubs and evergreens are trialed and tested 613 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,960 by experts with your success in mind. Learn more at 614 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,599 Proven Winners color Choice dot com. 615 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. This is fun, Stacy. 616 00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:31,839 Speaker 2: Oh, it's been so much fun, and I really hope 617 00:33:31,839 --> 00:33:33,720 that the listeners have enjoyed it as much as I 618 00:33:33,799 --> 00:33:37,400 have enjoyed researching and talking about it, because you know, 619 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:39,119 there's nothing better than a good story. 620 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,079 Speaker 3: Accept a good story about a garden. 621 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:47,039 Speaker 1: Exactly agreed. And by the way, a little tease, that's 622 00:33:47,039 --> 00:33:50,720 what we say in the industry, will tease next week's show. 623 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,720 As I understand it, we're gonna visit Stacy's what is 624 00:33:54,759 --> 00:33:56,880 it number one on your bucket list? 625 00:33:57,039 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 3: That is correct, and I'm going to keep you. 626 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: Guests on this all right, So let's head to Pasadena, California, 627 00:34:04,599 --> 00:34:07,880 Los Angeles. I've been to Los Angeles a number of times. 628 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,639 I've never been to the Huntington Garden, and I feel 629 00:34:10,679 --> 00:34:11,239 bad about it. 630 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,280 Speaker 2: Well, I have never been to Los Angeles, but I 631 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,199 want to make it a priority so I can go 632 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,280 to not just the Huntington Botanic Garden, but the many 633 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:21,599 incredible public gardens in California. You know, it's not surprising 634 00:34:22,039 --> 00:34:24,199 that there's tons and tons of amazing public gardens on 635 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:26,760 the East Coast. It has been settled for so long 636 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,280 and developed for so long. Meanwhile, in California it's all 637 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,920 relatively recent. But since they can grow literally everything, Yeah, 638 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:39,400 there are so many amazing gardens, and you know, I 639 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:41,920 think if you want to kind of see the world 640 00:34:42,199 --> 00:34:45,960 of plants in one place, Southern California has got to 641 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,400 be that one place. What an amazing climate to garden. 642 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:50,840 And but we're gonna go with the Huntington. 643 00:34:51,599 --> 00:34:54,280 Speaker 1: Can I make a quick creditorial comment in I got 644 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:59,599 a chance to visit Pat Nixon's garden in southern California 645 00:34:59,639 --> 00:35:02,920 and have dinner there. It's not a place you can visit. 646 00:35:03,039 --> 00:35:06,960 This was a special invitation. The boy was that cool 647 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:12,280 in southern California. Anyhow, go ahead. I'm sorry, you're just 648 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:13,440 making my mind racing. 649 00:35:13,599 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 650 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:15,599 Speaker 2: Well, there's just so much to think about down there. 651 00:35:15,639 --> 00:35:18,679 But we're going to talk about the Huntington Garden. So 652 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,639 it is in Pasadena. It was founded in nineteen nineteen 653 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:26,760 by Henry and Arabella Huntington. It's their former estate. Now, 654 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,800 Henry Huntington was in business with his uncle and made 655 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,880 lots and lots and lots of money building the Intercontinental 656 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:40,840 Railroad and early public transportation in Los Angeles. So he, 657 00:35:41,199 --> 00:35:43,880 you know, bought land and built the railroads and they 658 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,639 made boatloads of dope. His uncle died Henry Mary's his 659 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:53,639 uncle's widow. Scandalous, absolutely, scan I know, yes, you know, 660 00:35:53,679 --> 00:35:56,639 it's not really germane to the conversation about the garden. 661 00:35:57,079 --> 00:35:58,960 But I really kind of felt that I couldn't just 662 00:35:59,039 --> 00:36:03,239 let that detail just slied right by miss. Yes, the 663 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:06,039 society was scandalized, but he had so much money that 664 00:36:06,079 --> 00:36:07,000 it didn't really matter. 665 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:09,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, And for people who want to research it, as 666 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:13,039 I understand, it was the Pacific Electric Railway Company. 667 00:36:13,159 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, So he made his money in the railroads 668 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:17,599 at the time when there was tons of money to 669 00:36:17,599 --> 00:36:21,679 be made in the railroads. And he and Arabella were 670 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:24,719 passionate about gardening, and they were passionate about having an 671 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:29,119 estate full of interesting plants that they could enjoy and entertain. 672 00:36:29,199 --> 00:36:32,239 And so we always love it when the extremely wealthy 673 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,760 spend their money that way. So to this day, the 674 00:36:36,159 --> 00:36:39,880 Huntington Garden is sixteen different themed gardens over one hundred 675 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:42,400 and thirty acres. It's absolutely nothing like any of the 676 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,039 gardens that we have covered in our journey so far. 677 00:36:45,159 --> 00:36:46,480 And for a garden like this, you know, when we 678 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:49,800 talk about themed gardens on huge acreage, we're typically talking 679 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,199 about gardens that were designed as a collection or as 680 00:36:52,199 --> 00:36:55,320 a public garden, not something that started as a private 681 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:57,880 estate and as a plant collector. But it's very much 682 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,760 what he was because this is state was such an 683 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,400 ambitious project, he had to hire a superintendent, and that 684 00:37:04,559 --> 00:37:09,320 superintendent was on one William Hirtrick, who was hired to 685 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:12,719 start developing the gardens and collections in nineteen oh four. 686 00:37:13,679 --> 00:37:16,519 His first order of business was to develop a palm collection. 687 00:37:16,639 --> 00:37:19,039 So Huntington was not just like, hey, make me a 688 00:37:19,079 --> 00:37:23,159 pretty garden. He was like, no, I want every single palm. 689 00:37:23,559 --> 00:37:26,000 I want the best of those palms, and I want 690 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:30,639 them here in my garden right now, which I guess 691 00:37:30,679 --> 00:37:31,880 we would all do if we had the money to 692 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:36,039 do that. And so, you know, so he suggests the 693 00:37:36,039 --> 00:37:38,840 palm garden to Henry Huntington. Huntington's like, okay, yeah, that 694 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:43,199 sounds cool. But Hirtrick is he starting to develop the gardens, 695 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,840 is like, you know, this is not the most hospitable 696 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,800 environment for the dream that I know the boss man 697 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:51,280 has in his mind. I don't know how I'm going 698 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,519 to accomplish this on this land. What if we put 699 00:37:54,559 --> 00:38:00,239 in a cactus garden and Huntington goes bananas? He is like, 700 00:38:00,639 --> 00:38:03,400 absolutely not. Now think about this. He is out there 701 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,079 trying to develop the railroads and speculate on real estate 702 00:38:06,119 --> 00:38:09,000 where the railroads are going to go so he's out 703 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:13,239 trapesing through cactus fields and you know, Arizona and Nevada 704 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:16,679 and all of this. He hates cactus, like hates hates 705 00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:19,760 cactus because he's had so many negative experiences with cactus. 706 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:21,840 So when Hertrick says this to him, he's like, are 707 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:25,400 you joking me? But somehow hertrick wins out, and now 708 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:29,679 the Huntington Batanna Garden is the largest collection of cacti 709 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:31,239 and succulents in the entire world. 710 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:38,119 Speaker 1: That's amazing, amazing. These industrialists all seem to have green thumbs, 711 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:44,119 not from handling currency, but yeah, yeah, that's awesome. 712 00:38:44,519 --> 00:38:46,840 Speaker 2: Uh. Now, a quick aside on William Hrdtrick. He's a 713 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:50,000 fascinating person by all accounts. Not a very nice person. 714 00:38:50,679 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 1: Uh. 715 00:38:51,159 --> 00:38:55,159 Speaker 2: Some people called him the intractable German. But he was 716 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:58,960 also one of the charter members of the California Avocado 717 00:38:59,079 --> 00:39:03,960 Association and he planted the very first commercial avocado grove 718 00:39:04,039 --> 00:39:05,360 in San Marino, California. 719 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:07,719 Speaker 1: Hey, thank you, my avocado toast. 720 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:10,280 Speaker 2: Yes, now it is in San Marino, California. This is 721 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:13,280 just a little bit aside from the Huntington Garden. It's 722 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:16,239 where the Haas avocado, which makes up the majority of 723 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:20,239 avocados that we eat today. Was developed. Now, this is 724 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:23,719 such a fascinating story. It was developed by mail carrier 725 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:26,079 Rudy Haas. That's where the hass comes from. 726 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:26,599 Speaker 3: Now. 727 00:39:26,599 --> 00:39:30,320 Speaker 2: He had seen an article quote illustrating an avocado tree 728 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:33,199 with dollar bills hanging from it in a magazine in 729 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:36,719 nineteen twenty five. So he scrapes up all of his money. 730 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:38,400 He gets a loan from his sister. He buys a 731 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,320 one point five acre avocado grove in San Marino, California. 732 00:39:43,159 --> 00:39:44,960 It was the most popular variety at the time, which 733 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,719 was called fuerte, and he's like, hey, I need to 734 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:50,480 get more trees. I need to get him fast. So 735 00:39:50,519 --> 00:39:53,079 he buys a bunch of avocado seed that he can 736 00:39:53,159 --> 00:39:57,559 graft fuerte onto. So avocados are typically grafted, So he 737 00:39:57,599 --> 00:40:00,320 buys the avocado seed, he plants out. The seed is 738 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,079 to cut off the tops, graft the flerte onto them, 739 00:40:03,119 --> 00:40:06,119 and expand his avocado trees so he can get more. 740 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:10,880 So he's having a terrible time getting the trans the 741 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:15,280 grafts to take, but somehow he has this guy who's 742 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:17,519 helping him out with it. And there's one that just like, 743 00:40:17,599 --> 00:40:19,360 will not take and the guy says, you know what, 744 00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:21,880 I think that that tree seems pretty strong on its own. 745 00:40:22,599 --> 00:40:26,159 Let's just let it go and see what happens. And 746 00:40:26,639 --> 00:40:29,760 it turns out that within three more years it was 747 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:32,760 bearing fruit, whereas all avocados before, even the ones that 748 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:35,639 were grafted, needed at least five years to bear fruit. 749 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,639 And the fruit tasted even better than any other fruit 750 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,639 of avocados. So he's like taking it around to people 751 00:40:43,639 --> 00:40:45,559 saying like, hey, try this avocado. They're like, whoa, this 752 00:40:45,639 --> 00:40:49,880 is even better than flerte. And he names the variety 753 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,639 for himself, the Haas avocado, and in nineteen thirty five 754 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:56,960 of August nineteen thirty five, he was granted patent number 755 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,719 one thirty nine for the Haas avocado. 756 00:41:00,079 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 1: That's amazing. 757 00:41:01,119 --> 00:41:04,079 Speaker 2: So I couldn't I couldn't be in San Marino, California 758 00:41:04,079 --> 00:41:06,440 and not talking about this. But back to the Huntington. 759 00:41:06,519 --> 00:41:08,719 It is not simply a museum in a garden, because 760 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:12,159 it also houses the Huntington's personal collection of manuscripts and 761 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:16,280 art and really just monumental art that is world famous 762 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:20,480 that is in this museum within the gardens. The garden 763 00:41:20,519 --> 00:41:22,920 is a collection in and of itself. Just like the 764 00:41:23,039 --> 00:41:27,320 art is there are truly priceless botanical specimens. It's full 765 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,920 of artistry and creativity too. So you know, it's very 766 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:32,960 easy to think of a garden a collector's garden like this, 767 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:36,159 of being you know, rows of neatly labeled things and 768 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:38,679 it being about that collection. But there is so much 769 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:42,360 artistry and in the planting combinations at the Huntington, which 770 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:44,639 you know, I'm sure dates back to her Trick's day. 771 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:47,760 One of the most famous that we will certainly throw 772 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:51,559 here into the YouTube version is the combination of golden 773 00:41:51,639 --> 00:41:55,559 barrel cactus and blue agave, and there's multiple of both 774 00:41:55,559 --> 00:41:58,599 of them, and it is breathtaking. It is the kind 775 00:41:58,639 --> 00:42:01,559 of picture that makes me want to sell everything and 776 00:42:01,639 --> 00:42:04,880 move to the Southwest and design with totally new plants 777 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:07,920 because it's just so so cool. So in addition to 778 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:10,360 their cacti collection, like I said, largest in the world, 779 00:42:10,679 --> 00:42:14,639 it boasts a massive collection of palms, cycads, orchids, bonesie 780 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:18,519 and camellias. In fact, the first camelia ever planted in 781 00:42:18,559 --> 00:42:21,760 California was on the Huntington property, arriving from Japan in 782 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:25,159 eighteen eighty eight and it is still there for you 783 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:29,800 to visit to this day. And you know, like we said, 784 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:32,760 because you can grow pretty much anything in this area, 785 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:37,960 you can really experience the world of plants in one garden. Yes, 786 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,840 I mean, just an incredible place. So I am super 787 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:43,440 excited to plant a trip to la and visit the 788 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:46,719 Huntington among the many other wonderful gardens out there. Now 789 00:42:46,719 --> 00:42:47,800 you've been to one out there. 790 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:51,960 Speaker 1: It's on my list. And yes, Wrigly Memorial and Botanic Gardens, 791 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:55,599 So it's located on Catalina Island. And yes, we're talking 792 00:42:55,599 --> 00:43:00,800 about that Wrigly. Now Here in southwest Michigan. There are many, many, 793 00:43:01,119 --> 00:43:03,360 many Chicago Cubs fans. 794 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,480 Speaker 3: You see a lot of Cubs flags driving around. 795 00:43:05,559 --> 00:43:07,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. And if you ever get the chance to go 796 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:11,559 to Wrigley Field and see that iconic ballpark and the 797 00:43:11,679 --> 00:43:15,440 ivy growing on the wall. Wow. William Wrigley was the 798 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:18,760 owner of the Cubs in nineteen sixteen. He played a 799 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:23,519 major role in protecting Catalina Island and the memorial there 800 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:26,519 was originally his gravesite, but it was moved to be 801 00:43:26,599 --> 00:43:31,559 made into a public park. And there you're going to 802 00:43:31,639 --> 00:43:34,840 find California native plants. 803 00:43:34,519 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 2: And not just California natives. What's so cool about this 804 00:43:37,039 --> 00:43:39,679 garden that really just kind of blew my mind. Catalina 805 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:42,760 Island is an area called the Channel Islands, and the 806 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:47,320 garden there, the Wriggly Memorial Gardens, is devoted to conserving 807 00:43:47,519 --> 00:43:51,239 the sixteen plants that only grow in the Channel Islands 808 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:54,679 in California. And you know, it's so easy for plants 809 00:43:54,679 --> 00:43:57,079 to go extinct like that, so this is playing a 810 00:43:57,119 --> 00:44:02,639 really important conservation role for a very very unique niche. 811 00:44:02,679 --> 00:44:05,079 And you know, gardens that are extremely niche like this 812 00:44:05,679 --> 00:44:08,119 are just as important as the gardens that have massive 813 00:44:08,119 --> 00:44:10,679 collections like the Huntington. 814 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:14,760 Speaker 1: And very appropriate because Catalina Island. What an interesting place. 815 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:16,480 Not easy to get there. 816 00:44:16,199 --> 00:44:18,280 Speaker 2: But I've never been, but I would love to go, 817 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:19,880 maybe on my trip to La to see all these 818 00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:23,440 other wonderful gardens. All right, well that's all we have 819 00:44:23,480 --> 00:44:25,920 time for. But we are going to complete this next week, 820 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:28,000 so hopefully you are not tired of this and you 821 00:44:28,039 --> 00:44:30,480 are enjoying it as much as we are. We're going 822 00:44:30,519 --> 00:44:33,320 to kick it off with my number one most wanted 823 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:38,719 to visit gardens, So yes, very excited to tell you 824 00:44:38,719 --> 00:44:41,320 the story of that Garden in particular. In the meantime, 825 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:43,960 I want to thank you Rick, and thank you Adriana, 826 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:46,079 and thank you all so much for listening. We will 827 00:44:46,079 --> 00:44:46,960 see you next week.