Westlake Garden Club

Several years ago the club went on a field trip to Gardenview. It made such an impression that the club has been sending yearly donations ever since. The rugged individualist and horticulturalist Henry Ross dedicated several decades of his life to turning Gardenview into a 16 acre garden paradise. Its beauty is awe-inspiring. Gardenview has gained world-wide gardening fame. Several news stories have been written about it and it was featured on TV gardening shows and in gardening magazines and has attracted visitors from all over the world. This year more than 1150 people visited Gardenview. Ross recently died and Gardenview is now run by an all-volunteer board of directors and maintained by just one underpaid gardener. Ross's ashes are buried there in the place he so dearly loved. Unfortunately, Gardenview is now in financial trouble and it would be a tragic loss if it closed. The land was offered to other nonprofits like Holden and the Metroparks if they would just maintain it as a garden, but they all refused. But you can help. Gardenview is looking for a volunteer who knows grant writing. If you can do this, please lend a hand and call (440) 238-6653. Gardenview also needs volunteers to help the gardener, Mark LaRosa, from April to October. If you would like to visit Gardenview, call ahead to make sure the gates will be open. It's located at 16711 Pearl Road in Strongsville, 44136. If you would like to become a member, it's $25 for individual membership and $50 for family. And donations of any size are always welcome. Gardenview is nonprofit.

The Westlake Garden Club took a field trip to Schoepfle Gardens, part of the Lorain County Metro Parks, in Wakeman, Ohio. Otto Schoepfle purchased the house and 80 acres of land once owned by his grandparents in 1936. He did not start out to create a botanical garden, in fact he referred to it sometimes as “the garden that grew.” He traveled Europe and North America learning about different botanical varieties and methods, coming home after each trip with new ideas. This continual pursuit of learning became a dominant force in his philosophy of life. In 1969 Otto arranged to leave the garden to Lorain County Metro Parks but continued to live in the house and manage and maintain the gardens until his death in 1992. The garden now stands as a monument to his values of continual learning and appreciation of both cultivated and natural beauty. In addition to a large variety of trees, the gardens are seasonal with the star being the Rhododendrons in June. June also brings a beautiful palette of colors in the Iris garden. The park offers tram rides throughout the gardens and tours of the house. There is a children’s area with a carousel. We had a wonderful day at the park with box lunches and good companionship.

Karen Patterson talked to our garden club about National Parks in general, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in particular.  Karen is a retired history teacher, former seasonal park ranger and currently a volunteer with the CVNP.  The park has so much to offer and is just a short drive from anywhere in the greater Cleveland area.  The CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, OH.  Managed by the National Park Service, it combines cultural, historical, recreational and natural  activities in one setting.  The Ohio and Erie Canal is located within the park along which the Towpath trail is located.  The Towpath is used for hiking, running and biking.  Also located within the park is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Visitors can ride the excursion railroad from Rockside Road to Akron with many stops in between.  The railroad offers a Bike Aboard option where bikers can board the train at any station with their bike and ride as far as they want for $3. There are many hiking and bridle trails in the park as well as historic buildings and the historic canal locks.  The Countryside Conservancy has reestablished working family farms in CVNP through the Countryside Initiative program.  If you have not visited the national park in our backyard, please put it on your bucket list.  We have a real gem just a short drive away that offers something for everyone to learn from and enjoy.