Old croton garden in St. Pete

[junglegal]

Paging through an old book I bought, I came across an old newspaper clipping. It was for the St. Pete Time from Sunday Oct 18, 1953. They must have had a big gardening section back in the day.

They announce that the Selbys at 162 28th Ave NE are looking forward to their 'exotic' rangur lime tree ripening. Also that plants of heather arrived by air from Scotland for the garden of Mrs. Haydn Laycock D) at 521 42nd ave south. Can you imagine publishing your address these days??!! I should tell the paper I planted a Kentiopsis yesterday LOL

Of more interest to me is that they encourage the general public to go by the colorful croton garden of William Sand at 459 15th ave north North. That is very near me. Hmmm, what are the chances that his crotons are still on property?! I will do a drive by tomorrow on the way home from work. Lets hope!

 

[Jeff Searle]

That's pretty interesting and I would be excited to do a "drive-by", but I probably couldn't wait, and would go today. Please let us know how it went and if there were any crotons left in the landscape there. Take pictures if possible.


Jeff

 

[junglegal]

No can do, my Packer game starts in an hour and I just cracked a beer

 

[Moose]

No can do, my Packer game starts in an hour and I just cracked a beer

Bren - Are you wearing your cheesehead headress too?

Ron.

 

[junglegal]

Ron,
My cheese head cowboy hat comes out at kick off

 

[junglegal]

as you can see from me & Mom, it runs in the family..Okay...now back to crotons!

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

Bren, please let me know if there's something worthwile there. I may make a pit stop on the way home from work tomorrow.

 

[junglegal]

Ray,

You may beat me there. Tomorrow I start 9/80 hours so I'll be later. Let's see what we come up with

 

[TikiRick]

I may fly over and hover in my chopper and beat you both.

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

I'll check it out at 10 AM and let you know what's there in the afternoon I'm sure the garden has been replaced by a lovely patch of St. Augustine grass

 

[Moose]

Ray - Let us know when you come accross the 15 ft Ben Alexander.
Just dreaming but one never knows

Ron.

 

[junglegal]

Hey Ray, You may run into Julie because she agreed to do a drive by for me while I am shackled to this desk. It's near cresecent lake and there has been a lot of new construction in that area. I don't have high hopes for anything remaining.

 

[junglegal]

OK, I had someone do a driveby, she said no visible crotons form the street. You can go to google maps and see the house. I'll go by myself after work

 

[Moose]

Ray and Bren - Maybe the harsh winter of 1977 took them out. Wasn't that the year it snowed in Miami?

Ron.

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

Yes, 1977 was pretty rough.

 

[junglegal]

Just goes to show that all these gardens we create for our own enjoyment are but a fleeting snapshot in time. I feel sad for Mr. William Sand after seeing his property not resembling a home that has a cherished garden or a garden at all any more.

I bet he had some great things back in the day as he was mere blocks away from Turner's famous Sunken Gardens.

 

[keith]

What is all this fuss about a croton garden in St. Pete? You can see a great
croton garden Dec. 5th at Phil Stagers house when he hosts the next croton
society meeting.----be there.

 

[junglegal]

Oh I'll be there! Phil's collection is top notch & an inspiration but nothing to do with what I was trying to relay with this post.

I just love when gardening, history and mystery all blends. I think others do too!

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

The history is what I love most about crotons. While the plant isn't native, the hybrids known round the world came from right here.

 

[Moose]

The history is what I love most about crotons. While the plant isn't native, the hybrids known round the world came from right here.