Gary Whittenbaugh: impresario of the heartland

It is with great sadness that I post this small tribute to Gary Whittenbaugh, here badly shown holding up a very appropriate sign at one of his famous "Rendezvous" at Oelwein--the town where he and his brother Tom have lived.

Gary Whittenbaugh not only created (along with his brother Tom) this amazing gem (seen across from his neighbors)--an extravaganza of conifers (obviously) but a wealth of alpine and woodland plants as well.

Just a few shots to give you a taste of the remarkable transformation they wrought on a modest patch of land in Oelwein.

Just about every plant was carefully labeled, and maintained in perfect health.

Here you can see one of the many superb rock gardens filled with 

Another glimpse from out front--quite a contrast to the neighbor's!

The name they gave to their garden--a tribute to family if I remember correctly.

One of the many gems that were blooming in the autumn when I visited. I have several hundred pictures of alpines I took there...I must upload some of these--they're a revelation of what can be grown in a region where rock gardening was thought to be difficult.

Gary on the right and his brother Tom on the left, with whom he collaborated closely in the garden.

In addition to be an inspired gardener, Gary was an outstanding lecturer and impresario par excellence: he opened up an enormous number of gardeners to the world of conifers--making Iowa a centerpiece of the American Conifer Society. He had plans to do the same for the North American Rock Garden Society, but time, alas intervened.

Click here for more details on Gary's life and upcoming services in Oelwein.

I will dearly miss Gary's ebullient personality and omnipresent smile and good humor.