Ray Schroeder, former Topeka Parks and Rec. employee, gave TAWGS members a tour of the gardens at Historic Old Prairie Town following their June meeting.
Ray said the gardens were more exotic at first, with unusual stuff for many years, but now it is a mature garden and it has changed a lot over the years.
Walking past the newly installed streambed that many TAWGS members helped build, Ray pointed out the largest pecan tree in northeast Kansas. He said it has been struck by lightning six times during its lifespan. Ray said you can hear the American Linden tree in the spring because it is full of bees. Other trees that we walked by were the Caltalpa, Moerheim blue spruce, Katsura, Golden bamboo hedge, Osage orange, park hedge, Sycamore, Magnolia, Witch Hazel (it blooms in the spring and is used for water witching) and Weeping Purple Beech.
