Hommel Mangas
I received my Christmas present last week: a bright and shiny, nine-hour drive to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the National Conifer Society Convention. My husband really gets me.
We had two full days with lunch and lectures perusing the 350-acre Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum. The facility has over 28,000 accessioned plants, including one of the best collections of oaks and conifers on the East Coast; the largest collection of magnolia cultivars in the world; the third largest collection of hollies and an extensive collection of elm, crape myrtle, crabapple, maple, rhododendron, and witch hazel.
When I arrived, I asked our first golf cart arboretum-uber how long she’d worked my “dream job.” Jessica, an artist and art educator, shared that she has worked at the arboretum for seven years and “loves it.” On certain days, she packs a chain saw and can be found atop humongous trees, structural-pruning limbs.
Just recently, she helped place and plant 300 different cultivars of Japanese maples in a new, yet-to-be-seen-to-visitors area. Her eyes lit up as she described having that opportunity. It seemed to me a perfect mesh of artistry in an arboretum setting.
On Saturday, we toured a handful of stunning private gardens with hardscape complimenting the horticulture. In the sprawling wooded estate of the Serenity Garden, a 12-foot layered stack of brown and tan faceted-edged flagstone were stacked into the shape of a beehive. You can see garden photos here: www.serenitygardenclt.com/hive. Owner Patsy Reames generously gave us a walking tour of her 4.5-acres which showcased features such as her Dreams Labyrinth, Reames Relic Alter, Koi Waterfall and Butterfly Girl, located in the butterfly garden.
Our last stop on the way home was stopping by Appeldoorn Landscape Nursery, in Bostic, North Carolina, which specializes in high quality evergreen and dwarf conifers. A lifelong nurseryman since 1975, Bruce Appeldoorn currently specializes and produces over 750 varieties of conifers, which are propagated and produced on site and many unavailable elsewhere.
Appeldoorn propagates his stock by cuttings or grafting plant material, provided by some of the top gardens or arboretums in the U.S. He travels extensively in search of new offerings.
When my husband and I stopped by, we were the only two visitors, and Appeldoorn instantly welcomed us like we were family. By the time we left with a vehicle packed with conifers, we also left with an Appeldoorn education degree in conifers — he obviously loves what he does and it’s contagious.
As we drove home, Steve and I discussed how blessed we were to have met Mr. Appeldoorn. It felt like being in the presence of conifer royalty, a very relaxed and highly-knowledgeable royalty.
On our drive home the next morning, we worshipped online with Mt. Pleasant Christian Church. During the announcements they noted a Women’s Summer Book Club and announced the first book was “Find Your People,” by Jennie Allen. That book title has been rolling around in my head all week.
So if I happen to see you at the Johnson County Garden Celebration today — I’ll be set up in Herring Hall — just know, you’re my people.
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
