Letter from the Executive Director |
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Greetings!
This is the season of Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for this year. I'm profoundly grateful for the gift that John Fairey created and left for us, an incredible act of generosity that nourishes me every day. I’m thankful for Kara, Adolfo, Ricardo, Agustin, and Craig, our hard working and talented staff at the Garden. I’m thankful they all have managed to stay healthy so far through the pandemic. I’m thankful for the volunteers who make such a difference in the quality of the experience out here - Paul Merritt is our resident handyman who does everything from heavy brush cutting to electric repairs to carpentering. Phoebe Lake brings her plant knowledge and cheerful spirit to her volunteer work in the nursery and in leading tours of the Garden. Debra Caldwell not only volunteers in the nursery and leads tours, she also took on the task of creating and implementing the training program for docents. Harvey Newman diligently works in the nursery and keeps our bees. Tommi Ross helps Kara set up on Open Days. Wade Roitsch, who knows as much about the Garden as anyone, graciously drives two and a half hours, round trip, to lead private and Open Day tours. Guests who have Wade-led tours are lucky, indeed.
This year, we’ve also had a wonderful infusion of young volunteers - Charles Carpenter was the first of our annual summer interns from PVAMU. Most recently, Charles and Siah Green, Dorion Milsap, Taryn Eddie, Zahria Spencer, and Kiyah and Kendel Thomas helped Celebrtion guests find their way throughout the day. Jake Gilley, a student at Texas A&M, also helped us prepare for that big day by performing some landscaping chores around the guest cottage.
Each of our board of directors contributes in their own way and I’m grateful for their time, wisdom, and financial gifts to the foundation. Wally Wilkins, in particular, has dedicated himself to the garden for years and has provided invaluable assistance both in the garden and in the nursery.
And finally, I am most grateful for our supporters in the community who support the garden in one way or another, even if by just reading this newsletter. We wouldn’t be here without you and we are so thankful for your ongoing support of a special place where the gifts are so abundant and amazing that giving thanks seems the most natural thing on earth to do.
Warm regards,
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Photo by Jenny Antill Photography |
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Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Gaston Fairey |
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On Nov. 13th, the most perfect of November days, we celebrated the life and legacy of John Gaston Fairey in the garden he created. Over 120 people gathered, including 33 family members who came from across the country, from California to South Carolina. Gaston Fairey, John’s nephew, shared thoughts about John as did our Head Gardener, Adolfo Silva, who worked with John for almost twenty years. Burton Knight, a former student and intern at the Garden; Ron James, a long time friend who provided personal care for John as his health declined; Wally Wilkins, who recounted his first visit to the Garden; Andrew Vrana, former student and designer of the Footbridge for John; Bill Noble a friend, writer, and fellow garden designer; Antonia Adezio, a long time friend of John’s and one time Acting Director of the Foundation; and Randy Twaddle, current Executive Director, all shared their personal perspectives on what made John and his Garden so special.
We also dedicated two superb additions to the garden - Vrana’s Footbridge for John, and “Eternal Moment,” the stunning glass mosaic designed by artist, Dixie Friend Gay.
The day was topped off by lunch catered by Jackson and Company under the trees in the arboretum, accompanied by music from Mariachi Imperial de America.
Thank you to all who attended this memorable event.
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Lunch in the Arboretum, Los Mariachis Imperial America, John Fairey's family members (all photos Jenni Antill Photography) |
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A few years ago, familiar with his work and knowing that he was a former student of John’s, we asked architect and designer, Andrew Vrana, if he’d consider designing a bridge for the Garden. Andrew gladly accepted, and provided, pro bono, a conceptual sketch for our consideration. After the typical delays and uncertainties, Andrew got the go ahead to fully develop and fabricate the bridge and it was installed over the summer and dedicated on November 13th. Here’s Andrew’s description of the bridge::
The Bridge for John Fairey is an homage to a great professor and plantsman who cultivated a beautiful garden as well as a passion for design that he instilled in many of the students he taught.
The inspiration for the form and structure of the footbridge comes from nature. Like a leaf, this bridge incorporates dynamic curvature and vectors of force within one coordinated expression. Nothing is extraneous and nothing can be removed, a true minimal structure. It narrows in the center and widens at the ends which corresponds to axial connections and lines of sight to John’s house and the continuation of the garden to the north. This gesture also concentrates material at the ends where the reaction forces are most concentrated and lightens it in the midspan for maximum efficiency. It is a hybrid system, combining a compression arch with a Vierendeel truss. The bridge is designed to be transparent to the water that flows through it when the creek periodically overflows during flash flood events.
The vibrant colors on the guardrail are a reference to the blooming flowers and autumnal foliage that we can encounter when visiting this garden throughout the seasons, and in John’s own design of the architectural features he placed throughout the garden.
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Adolfo and crew have been busy planting this fall. Here’s a statistical rundown.
- 142 Total new accessions
- 33 Seed lots planted from wild collections in the Trans Pecos
- 109 Woody Plants added to the garden
- 26 Oaks, including 13 that originated from wild collected acorns
- 32 Conifers including 6 Mexican/Trans Pecos pines
- 14 Woody Lilies including 8 from wild collected seed from Texas & Arizona
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Notes from John Fairey's Mexico plant collecting journals |
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Trip 41
May 9, 1992
Unlike most of the trips entered in the journal, this one gives no indication who was on trip 41 to Mexico. They left on May 9, 1992 at 9 am, headed for Monterrey. Three days into the trip, at Puerto Purificacion, in the Sierra Madre Oriental, between Monterrey and Ciudad Victoria, they collected a Clethra Pringlei at 5400 feet elevation. Most of us at the Garden assumed the name “Whitewater” John attached to the plant came from its long racemes of white flowers, but given the description “@ water caves 5,400’” in the journal, it most likely is a reference to the white water in the caves.
Twenty nine years later, the very plant noted in that journal entry is an incredible specimen in the North Dry Garden. Clethras usually take the form of a shrub, but this one is in tree form 20+' high.
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It's that time of year when we ask you to consider making a financial contribution to the Garden. If you've enjoyed the garden this past year, or even if you've just enjoyed the newsletter, please consider a donation of any amount to help ensure that one of the most beautiful gardens in the country stays that way.
Thank you again for your support.
Warmest wishes for a joyful and healthy holiday season!
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Membership to the Garden makes a great gift |
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Have you thought about giving a membership to The John Fairey Garden as a holiday gift? It's easy to sign up a friend of loved one. You can do so here.
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