Summer School

 

There's a lot to learn. I think that's the good news. But this past week I got a glimpse of just how much fun those lessons can be. My hard working assistant Adam and I got up very early last Friday to drive to up to Gainesville, GA to see some garden projects done by the Fockele Garden Company. Mark Fockele had graciously offered to show us some of the gardens that plants from Specialty Ornamentals have populated. I was eager to see my "babies" in use, and also eager to give Adam the opportunity to see first class garden design first hand. Besides, this was also an opportunity to NOT sweat for a few hours while still technically working.

We started in the Fockele garden, and were amazed by the wide cultural niches available- sun, shade, flat, hilly, wet, dry, containers, beds, masses, specimens. A vast array of plants have been woven throughout the property, but at every turn there were brilliant "garden moments".  Small items together, big broad brushes of texture and color all combine to create mood and magic.  

We moved on up the street to the Enota School, one of the Gainesville City Public Schools. Blah......that is a horrible name for what this place is. The address on Enota Dr is the home of SMARTVILLE, and that name is apt. A modest brick building just off the road is now tucked in behind a perennial border,

above a cistern system, 

attached to huge water storage tanks and just off a fully planted swale and water runoff abatement system. “The goal is to never use city water on the garden,” said Fockele Garden Company owner Mark Fockele. “When you see all of the environmental problems that we are having, we all could do better to conserve resources, and it’s important to teach children these skills early on.” 

 

"The project also includes a demonstration garden that will exhibit representatives of all nine phyla in the plant kingdom, and which provides important teaching tools on plant taxonomy and related topics.  This garden, called the ‘Smartville Plant Kingdom,’ so far includes representatives from five of the extant nine plant phyla: ferns, gnetophyta, ginkgos, conifers, and flowering plants.  Subsequent phases will introduce  representatives of the remaining phyla: mosses, lycopods, cycads, and psilophyta."

After a tour of this incredible project, both Adam and I went home inspired, curious, and energized to get back to work. On the way home, the question was asked and answered....

"Are you smarter than a fifth grader?"

Not a fifth grader from SMARTVILLE!!

Magic at Magnolian Grove

HOT. HOT. HOT. What can you do? If you've been reading along, you know I hate paperwork. Well....would it give you a hint at how hot it is if I told you that my inbox of bills, statements, etc, is completely empty? I've been getting up REALLY early to work. I've been swimming every afternoon to cool off. But sometimes, I've just got to get away and stop thinking about how hot it is.


Last week I had the distinct honor and incredible privilege to ride with Dr Mike Dirr and Coach Vince Dooley to see the Magnolia collection of Dick and Anita Figlar in the foothills of South Carolina. Dick is the global Magnolia guru, and has a comprehensive collection of Magnolias from around the world. It was hot there, too, but we were all bubbling with energy.
After a quick pit stop and a bottle of water, we headed out to the collection. What Dick has done with this 20 acre slice of woodland paradise is remarkable. Cleared paths, lined paths, rock piles, and planted Magnolias at every step mark off the days and years of Dick's fascination with this group of plants. They purchased this property 20 some years ago, with the idea that it would be a long term retirement destination, and it could also house the collection as it grew. Trouble was, they lived in New York. Quite a commute!
A small loft cabin became a vacation home for the family every year. The boys grew, and so did the collection.
     


We walked down the hill to the creek. We walked up the hill to the cabin. We headed up another hill to the Magnolia grandiflora collection. All the while, Dick was elucidating the subtle differences of species and varieties. This time, Dirr played the expert as student. Taxonomy and DNA studies cemented the conclusions, but we all had our favorites,

Magnolia faveolata 'Shibamichi Gold'

Magnolia yuyuanensis

and I still had plenty of questions and missing information.  


While Magnolias are tops with these two, Dick pointed out a weeping Nyssa sylvatica

weeping Nyssa

on the property that gave us all shivers, even as we sweat.  

The animated conversation continued in air conditioned comfort at the lunch table Anita had set for us. I felt at times like I was watching a tennis match, but it sure was a good one. The Figlars are a delightful couple, and tremendous hosts. I really appreciated the incredible lesson.

Weeper's Walk

After the ride back to Athens, we stretched our legs at the Dooley garden. 

Coach Dooley has a beautiful garden, and a fabulous collection of plants of all kinds. We perused the Magnolias first, then followed the paths to the rest of the treasures. We checked out the new conifer areas in the garden, especially installed for the ACS SE Region tour he will host in October. I barely kept up with the continuous plant quiz from the Professor. It was a smile at every turn.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Tidal Wave'

Evergreen Kousa cultivars

Woody plants are what I do. This day full of the best of woody plants with the best of woody plant people is the best work day I can imagine.  I have to say again how much of a thrill it was for me to be that little fly on the wall at the meeting of these giants of horticulture. I promise you, I never thought about the weather for one second that day, and had plenty to think about for days to come.You know....it's true......

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. 

~Anton Chekhov