| Ray Schroeder leads tour of Ward Meade gardens |
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| Tuesday, 06 July 2010 10:27 | ||||
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Ray said the gardens were more exotic at first, with unusual stuff for many years, but now it is a mature garden and it has changed a lot over the years. Walking past the newly installed streambed that many TAWGS members helped build, Ray pointed out the largest pecan tree in northeast Kansas. He said it has been struck by lightning six times during its lifespan. Ray said you can hear the American Linden tree in the spring because it is full of bees. Other trees that we walked by were the Caltalpa, Moerheim blue spruce, Katsura, Golden bamboo hedge, Osage orange, park hedge, Sycamore, Magnolia, Witch Hazel (it blooms in the spring and is used for water witching) and Weeping Purple Beech. Other trees he pointed out were: Chamasyprurs (a tall evergreen), White pine, Ohio buckeye (Indians fished with it), Redhorse chestnut buckeye, Bottle brush buckeye, hardy Rubber tree and Ray's favorite - the Tri-color Beech tree. Other trees along the way were: Copper beech, Green spire linden, and the native Soapberry tree (it has seeds to make soap).In addition to the trees, the gardens have many hostas and perennial and annual flowers. Ray's heart and soul are in the gardens as hestarted working on them in the mid 1960's and he and his family lived in the mansion for about 12 years. The city's downsizing of employees made Ray decide to retire to preserve a job for the younger folks. He will not be replaced so he worries that the gardens will not get the care they need. At the present time, Ray plans to come back to work in the gardens a few days a week and develop a volunteer program where TAWGS and other garden clubs can come to help keep the gardens beautiful.
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Ray Schroeder, former Topeka Parks and Rec. employee, gave TAWGS members a tour of the gardens at Historic Old Prairie Town following their June meeting.