Greenest in Ohio

Back in October when I was making excuses to avoid embracing the cold and tidy up my garden, over in Cleveland, Ohio things were very different. More than one hundred people, many wearing green, turned out for the re-dedication of the Irish Cultural Garden in Rockefeller Park, which had just been restored.

Designed by Donald Gray back in 1933, it’s principal feature is the sandstone walk's Celtic cross design. The original garden was planted with Irish Juniper, yew and white lilac, hawthorn, as well as shamrocks and cowslips. Shannon roses formed the borders and there were beds of Killarney roses. A cinder path was accentuated by Irish blackthorn tree, because of it’s use in the making of the shillelagh. It was officially opened in 1939 during a visit by the then Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera.

This is one of twenty four gardens that make up the Cleveland CulturalGardens, the earliest, planted in 1916, was dedicated to William Shakespeare and later became known as the British garden. The newest was unveiled in 2008 and celebrates the country of Azerbaijan. Each nation represented, signifies a different ethnic group which was created as immigrants arrived to start a new life in America. From Germany to China and India to Latvia, the planning and fundraising for each garden is undertaken by the various communities.

Amongst all of these, the newly re-planted Irish tribute is proudly known as the "greenest of the park gardens" which features actual stones from Daniel O’Connell’s home place. An extensive irrigation system has been installed to keep it looking lush and there is a bust of Dublin born, Victor Herbert who founded the ASCAP which protects the rights of musicians. This means that in Cleveland, Ohio there is a little piece of Ireland where people can remember their ancestors who left these shores and headed for the land of the free.

Most of us have plants in our gardens that remind us of old friends and close relatives. A specimen that was carefully passed on to be treasured and loved, it’s growth and success meaning so much. That is the spirit of gardening and, of course, community. I’d imagine that living so far away from your homeland, must be made a little easier by having a special space devoted to it.

I felt inspired by the cultural gardens in Cleveland, even managing to get my weeds under control despite the weather. With the internet making global communication just a touch of a button, there is no reason why garden clubs could not link up around the world. It’s something to think about while the shamrock is rotting on the compost and the tricolour is back in the press after St. Patrick’s Day. That day belongs to Irish men and women everywhere including those that tend to the greenest garden of old Ohio.

NB Written back in 2010 while living in West Cork.