In 1976 I left home for Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. I was blessed to be accepted into the Landscape and Nursery Management Program. This was it's innaugural year.
There were about 20 people accepted into the program. We had all of our classes together except for our religion class. As you can imagine, we were an amazingly close-knit group. Dr. Kim Black was the head of the program. I came to truly love and respect him. Part of the program was to learn the practical aspects of landscaping. In other words.... getting dirty! One of the projects we started was a garden area behind the Agriculture building. 
Some of the guys in the program called it Fort Apache. This was the beginning of what would later become the Thomas Ricks Gardens. Fort Apache has been removed and replaced, and the gardens continue to grow. Yesterday as I was driving to Ogden, I stopped and took some wonderful moments walking down memory lane at Ricks College (aka BYU-Idaho). I hope I don't sound too boastful when I tell you that I was so proud to have been a part of this project. I know that none of us students even remotely caught the vision of what was to come. 
The gardens now cover some 10 acres and are absolutely stunning! I found myself very emotional as I thought about those hours spent working in that pasture land. People enjoying the gardens would have no idea what went into that project. I'm sure they wouldn't even imagine the pastureland, the weeds etc. that were once there. 
I saw a plaque on a bench dedicated to Dr. Black, I wish I knew where he was. I don't even know if he is still alive. I am so grateful for his foresight and hardwork to make his dream at Ricks College a reality. 
They now have all sorts of different majors within the horticulture department. They still have the same club we organized "Metus Topiaria", and it has grown so much. I wondered about the students I graduated with. We finished with an Associate Degree in Landscape and Nursery Management. (Ricks was a 2 year college)
As I enjoyed the nooks and crannies, and all the little alcoves I couldn't help but wonder how many proposals and stolen kisses had occurred here. Hmmmmmm
If life should take you through or even near Rexburg, make sure you take the time to enjoy the gardens! 
Gorgeous pictures! I've never been there, but now I think I need to put it on my list of "must sees." I think it's so neat that you were one of the few who started creating this amazing place.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for still get to enjoy something that you were a part of starting!
ReplyDeleteWow I am impressed! It is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlways such pretty pictures :) I need to come and hang out with you, you are always doing so much! I feel pretty lame bc I don't go anywhere hahaha
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such stunning pictures of what is in my home town. Would you believe that this very garden is where we took my niece, Amanda and her husband's (Jared Grimmer who is from Darrington!) graduation pictures two years ago?!?! At that time they had just the one little girl, Ashlyn. Now they live in Darrington with a new addition to the family...Marly. I'm so grateful to have them close by and in our ward. I love them to pieces! Sorry, I regressed...I had no idea you were involved in such a beautiful place...WOW! I didn't get to see the who place, because we were in a hurry to get to a family luncheon and his mom and I wanted to get pictures of them before they got out of their gowns. Next time I'm down there, I will definitely go up to there and take a better look...especially now I have you to thank, among many others, for making a mini-Garden of Eden at BYU-I!
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