Sometimes the treasures closest to home are the ones we miss. One of our Arizona treasures is La Posada Resort in Winslow, AZ. Built in 1929 it is described as “the last great railroad hotel.” It is Mary Coulter’s architectural masterpiece. She designed 21 projects for Fred Harvey. “Mary Coulter was hired by the Fred Harvey Company in 1903 to design fine hotels, restaurants, and gift shops along the Santa Fe Railway. She became America’s most influential woman designer. . . . This was her favorite project, the only time she was allowed to design everything from the buildings (to the china, maid’s uniforms,) to the gardens.”(laposada.org) Her plan was to create an oasis in the high plateau of the Colorado River to greet the guests arriving by train. LaPosada opened in 1930 and in a turn of history’s fortunes, her garden plans were never fully realized.
Category: Garden Articles
Rio Grande Bio Park, Botanical Garden
Even on a 100 degree day this garden is a cool place to be. Only 15 years old, this 36-acre botanical garden was built in the site of a city park that had fallen into disrepair. As a result, mature cottonwood and elm trees provide shade all throughout the garden. The entry courtyard is spacious and decorative. As you enter the garden through beautiful, ornate bronze gates, the first space to catch your eye is the children’s fantasy garden with a castle tower and dragon. The dragon towers up above the trees with fabric wings and a spine planted with rounded boxwood. The castle tower floor is a sand pit ready for play. Walking through the castle courtyard, you find yourself in a land of giants. This garden grows huge carrots, radishes, and onions. The tools of the giants are scattered about. There is a rake, trowel, watering can, and flower pots, all fit for the giant. A motion activated bee begins buzzing overhead as you enter the potting area. You walk into the interior of a monstrous pumpkin with the seeds and stringy center dangling overhead. The tree trunks open up for play, you may slide down to another level. This imaginative garden space is a bit of magic for all ages.
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK
My primary exposure to Oklahoma was in the movie theatre “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain” So driving through the state and seeing the Myriad Botanical Gardens drastically expanded my view. Located in downtown Oklahoma City the 17 acre gardens “there is grand” just as the song from the famous musical says.
Philbrook Art Museum & Gardens, Tulsa, OK
If you should tire of your 72 room Italian villa surrounded by 23 acres of formal gardens, consider donating it to your city for an art museum. This happened! In Tulsa, OK, in 1938, oil man Waite Phillips & wife Genevieve decided to move from their Italian Renaissance villa to a home in California. Tired of their Tulsa home they donated it to the city. Accepting this “house” the city opened it as The Philbrook Art Museum surrounded by its beautiful gardens in 1939. Today it continues as a great point of pride for Tulsa.
Leeds Castle, Kent, England
England is making news this summer with images of the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Rings everywhere. Yet for me there is no more definitive image of England than a castle.
Floral Beauty in Amarillo
I don’t know much about Texas and I will admit if I am not paying attention I find it easy to confuse Amarillo and Armadillo. Amarillo is a town with a proud history of quarter horses and cattle. The scent of cattle reminds you of their importance in the economy today. Yet the moment you step inside the fragrance garden of the Amarillo Botanical garden the scent of chocolate flower surrounds you and you realize you are in an incredible gem of a garden.
A Survivor Tree
I wanted to see the survivor tree at the memorial plaza of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building, the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. This tree was buried under the rubble of the building debris that fell April 19, 1995. This American Elm tree showed signs of life when it was uncovered by the clean up workers months after the bombing. A sign of life so significant that it inspired so many then and continues yet today. It is in the center of a plaza space to representing regrowth and healing.
Botanical Garden, Albuquerque
Even on a 100 degree day this garden is a cool place to be. Only 15 years old this 36 acre botanical garden was built in the site of a city park which had fallen into disrepair. As a result mature cottonwood and elm trees provide shade all throughout the garden. The entry courtyard is spacious and decorative. You enter the garden through beautifully ornate bronze gates.
Fluttering By
Butterflies in my garden are an occasional delight. I grow some of their favorite foods, the desert milkweed and lantana, to encourage them to stop by. Still I wonder what I could to have more of these flying jewels in my garden all year long. As part of the Arizona Centennial Celebration Lola White is coordinating a Butterflies and Garden project with the goal of making Arizona the most butterfly friendly state in the nation. Her websitehttp://www.butterflyquest.net/ describes the project and provides a wealth of information about butterflies.
Celebrating Flora
Celebrating Flora
In ancient times much of the world paused from their work to celebrate flowers. The Roman Goddess Flora was celebrated in the spring. A Maypole was erected,with ribbons streaming down, hands reached up and the dancing began. Young women wore crowns of flowers in their hair. The beauty of life, flowers and fertility was thoroughly celebrated with the hope of a great harvest in the Fall. The celebration lasted several days with games, performances, feasting and drinking.