Login | Register | Subscribe

Advanced Search Privacy About Our Ads

Home News Opinion Sports Features Entertainment Marketplace Homes Jobs Cars
LOCAL NEWS COLUMNISTS PHOTOS VIDEO STATE NATION WORLD

Home / News / Local

Sponsored by:
Garden Ramble in its 22nd year 28° F
Current Conditions
Story Discussion Image (6) Font Size:

By JENNIFER BROWN, For the JG/T-C | Posted: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:00 am | (0) Comments

0 tweet Recommend Sign Up to see what your friends recommend.

CHARLESTON — The Garden Ramble on Dr.

Wesley’s Whiteside’s farm is in its 22nd consecutive
year, sponsored by the Coles County Historical
Society and garnering $1-per-person donations as
guests arrived on Memorial Day weekend.
Whiteside, a retired botany professor of Eastern
Illinois University, has been gardening since 1962.
He bought the expansive acreage and has groomed
it to include thousands of plants and flowers over the
years. Poll
“I started planting in the spring of 1962 and I lost How do you feel about weather canceling
everything to a brush fire,” Whiteside said. “In the school or work for you?
process of planting, I emphasized native plants.”
It’s great to get a day off
The history of the Garden Ramble dates back to
I would rather be at work/school
(2) More Photos 1987 when Whiteside was getting ready to retire
from the university. He was appointed to the Coles
County Historical Society by Bob Hennings, and a Vote
field trip to see wildflowers was suggested.
“It was Millie Havacker’s idea to call it a Garden Ramble,” Whiteside said. Most Popular
At the first ramble, the group only expected 15 visitors. With each year, the number of guests has
Most Read Most Commented Facebook
increased and donations to the historical society have been sufficient.
In the beginning, Whiteside would give tours to his guests. In recent years, he has let the guests come to 1 adult, 3 kids die in crash
the ramble and take self-guided tours of his property. Accused in domestic incident, former Coles
chief deputy arrested
The water gardens are a special part of Whiteside’s garden. Man lying in road hit, killed Saturday night
“I’ve had the water lilies for years and years,” Whiteside said. “Water lilies rarely die in the water.” Woman files second order of protection request
against former chief deputy
The water gardens on Whiteside’s property are made from the same material used to manufacture More closings: Area schools call off Thursday
swimming pools. The gardens are made of plastic and lined with rubber on the inside. classes
Police investigating suspicious vehicle fire
“Lilies should be divided in the spring or they get little and dinky,” Whiteside said.
Winter's worst storm to bring ice, then snow to
This summer, Whiteside has taken in an intern from EIU, Bradley Daugherty, a senior environmental major. Coles County region
Daugherty has worked alongside Whiteside the past few weeks preparing for the Garden Ramble. EIU classes canceled, area schools closed
Tuesday due to storm
“I help to weed and maintenance the plants,” Daugherty said. “I plan to get more involved as time goes on.”
Generally, Whiteside goes without any help on his property.
“I think there are thousands of plants, and that’s just an estimate,” Daugherty said. He heard about Marketplace
Whiteside’s garden from his professors at EIU and decided to document it this summer.
Jobs Rentals Service Directory
“Things that were in bloom last year are now gone,” Whiteside said. “Things are unusually early this year.”
Tractor Trailer Mechanic
Whiteside said the trees and shrubbery stand more stable than the flowers in the garden.
When a water district moved east of Charleston, Whiteside requested the contractors install hydrants onto
Secretary
his land. Eastern IL Area Spec Ed
“I asked if I could have a line sent under the creek,” Whiteside said. “My plants are large and they bloom a
Driver Trainees
lot.” Schneider National
The deer on Whiteside’s property are the largest predator against his blooming flowers. To conquer this
problem, he has put together a soapy formula to keep the deer away.
“If I see evidence of damage, I use Irish Spring soap in three to four gallons of water,” Whiteside said.

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
“If I see evidence of damage, I use Irish Spring soap in three to four gallons of water,” Whiteside said.
He has sprayed the tulips and daylilies, which are often targets for the deer in the woods.
Whiteside’s flowers and plants are generally from what he began to plant in the spring of 1963. Groups do
come to look at his flowers and anyone is welcome to look at his display of wildflowers, he said.

Contact Jennifer Brown at jebrown2@eiu.edu.

Copyright 2011 JG-TC.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Posted in Local, News on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:00 am Updated: 12:12 pm.

Print Email ShareThis

Other Stories Sponsored Links

Driver hurt when car struck by Canadian National The Top 10 Golf Mistakes?
freight train Play the "best golf" of your life in just 2 weeks-Get
10 free lessons!
Project Graduation meeting planned Tuesday Peak Perform anceGolfSwing.com
Nebraska company seeking to acquire
Graywood group homes $5,000 Cash Loans
McCann's Sister: ‘Our family has been turned C ash Wired to Your Account Bad C redit OK Apply
Now!
upside down by this tragedy’ www.1Hour-Advance.com
Winter storm causes most damage in 33 years
for Coles-Moultrie co-op 5 Profit Makers for 2011
Lawmaker wants to track number of Discover How To Make Profits That C ould Last A
Lifetime!
homeschooled students www.taipanpublishinggroup.com
Cumberland residents urged to seek shelter aid
A lot of customers on the line Ads by Yahoo!

Connect with Us
RSS Twitter

Facebook Mobile

Sections Services Other Websites Search

Homepage Contact Us Associated Press Go
News About Us WEIU-TV
Sports Subscriber services Herald & Review
Features Events Calendar Southern Illinoisan
Obituaries RSS Pantagraph
Classified Quad-City Times A Lee Enterprises subsidiary
Jobs Daily Chronicle Other Lee Websites
Cars The Times
Homes St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lee Enterprises

© Copyright 2011, JG-TC.com, 100 Broadway Ave. Mattoon, IL | Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com