Hg Spring 2010 News-web

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Vol. 1 No. 1 Spring 2010 A Newsletter by the Friends of Hodges Gardens

Spring has ofcially sprung

at Hodges Gardens State Park

These proud parents are a pair of Canadian Geesewho make their home on the lake at the Gardens.

Watching the protective parents and their four uffy goslings is a favoritepastime of many spring visitors to the Gardens. The geese are often seen taking

a swim with their babies and grazing in the fresh spring grass. Visitors are

encouraged to watch and take pictures, but not approach the very protective

Mother Goose and her mate. Canada Geese mate for life and both parent

share in parenting responsibilities.

Canada Geese are migratory waterfowl who spend summers in Canada

and migrate to the southern United States, Mexico and South America for

winters. However, this pair and several other Canada Geese live at the Gardens

year-round where they are safe from predators and can delight

The geese are descended from ocks raised by the late Dr. Bobby Brocato

at the Diamond B Ranch in Many. A lifelong lover of waterfowl, Dr. Brocatoeach year for more than 20 years purchased two dozen day-old goslings from

a supplier in Minnesota and hand-raised the tiny goslings until he could release

them on a large pond on the ranch. Although he banded the birds, which were

protected by federal wildlife regulations, he never clipped their wings because

he thought they needed to be able to y to get away from predators.

The geese at Hodges Gardens State Park represent several generations

of geese who make their homes at ponds and lakes in the central/western

Louisiana area. Although some have joined migrating ocks of geese, many

of them remain in the area year round and can often be seen ying to differen

lakes and ponds where they make their permanent homes.

In this Issue:

ThankyoufrompresidentofFriendsofHodgesGardens

SpringFling2010

TellmeaStory

AnotefromtheParkmanager

HodgesGardensHoriculturalist

Spring/Summerscheduleof

events

Membershipinformation

He (Mr. Hodges) gave

everything he had to

these gardens.

DorisKnippers


2/9Spring 2010 Page 2Friends of Hodges Gardens

John Byrd (center), president of Friends of Hodges Gardens visits with Tom Dunigan (left) of Houston, TX, and Mrs. BobbiieKratz of Many during Spring Fling at Hodges Gardens.

Friends of Hodges Gardens State Park, thank youfor remembering the past and having hope for the future.

Our members that have worked so hard, establishing

this group, together are very diverse individuals anddedicated to Hodges Gardens. For the past several years

the Louisiana Park System and the board members have

worked together to make this Friends group a reality. It

has been a very good working relationship at the Park,

with their staff and employees, and on the State level.

Now it is time to do what we were organized to

accomplish, which is Strive to provide leadership and

support to enhance the gardens and events for everyone.

With the help of our new members, who are so welcome,

we will all work to build this magnicent treasure of

Hodges Gardens State Park back to glory. Thank you

for your dedication and unending efforts. Now, all weneed is a little time to continue our efforts.

To those of you who are not yet members of Friends

of Hodges Gardens State Park, we encourage you to join

and become a Friend too. Youll receive a year-long pass

to the Gardens, and your membership cost is tax-free

(less the cost of the annual pass).

John Byrd, president

Friends of Hodges Gardens



espite the prediction of bad storms, hundreds of people attended

the rst Spring Fling at Hodges Gardens State Park on March 20.

It was a great starting point for us and we hope that this

annual event continues to grow. Spring is the perfect time for us to

showcase the gardens as they are starting to wake up from the winter

and people are ready to get outside and start enjoying the changing

of the season, said Park Manager Kim Kelly. We appreciate all

those that braved the weather and came out to enjoy the festivities and

fellowship of the day.

Congratulations to the winners of the day: Peoples Choice Car

Show: Dennis Foster of Florien; Antique Division and Best in Show

Don Harris of New Llano, Custom Division.

Run: Mens 5K, Cedrick Garner, Florien; Womens 5K, Lella

Pollard, Leesville; Mens Loop, Sammy Lee, Hornbeck and WomensLoop, Kristen Ramirez, Ft. Polk.

Weather doesnt stop spring ing

Antique and Custom cars wrap around Willow Point

Runners get an early start at Spring Fling

Looper Vickey Stevenson

crosses the fnish line

William Dunigan of Houston, TX., learns how

to make a bird feeder from a giant pineconeand peanut butter. Dunigan participated in

the childrens workshops at the annualHodges Gardens State Park Spring Fling.



he elders met the younger generation

and shared wisdom, advice and fondmemories during the Hodges Gardens

State Park Tell Me a Story event held

during Spring Fling on March 20.

Two NSU broadcast journalism

students, Jeffrey Sholar from Shreveport,

and Kelli Otto from Coppell, Texas, prepared for the Tell Me

a Story video interviews by researching Hodges Gardens

State Park. Otto said they had prepared lists of questions

to ask the visitors. However, the interviews became more

of a conversation between the journalism students and their

guests.About a dozen old timers who grew up around the

Hodges Gardens area were eager to be interviewed and have

their memories made permanent on video tape. Sholar and

Otto got a good glimpse into what rural life was like between

1914 and the 60s and 70s.

Thelma Hardin Miller was born in 1913 grew up with

her 11 brothers and sisters on the family farm, located in

the Plainview area, just a few miles from the site of what

would become Hodges Gardens. She recalled walking two

and a half miles to school every day. We walked for two

or three years, and then we had school buses, she recalled.Every morning we fried sweet potatoes and we took them

and biscuits to school for lunch. Mrs. Miller remembers

that the rock quarry (now part of Hodges Gardens) was a

favorite place for school picnics and said everyone looked

forward to a trip to the old rock quarry.

The Reverend William Roy Dowden was eager to share

his memories. He was born in 1919 just over the hill from

Tell Me a Story

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

My husband used to work all over the country.

He said years and years ago, there was a big signout in New Mexico, to visit Hodges Gardens,

the garden in the forest.

Brenda Stroud Anderson

Two NSU journalism students interview Ann

Armbruster about growing up near the Gardens.

As far as I can remember, my dad only missed two

Easter Sunrise services in his life. We bundled up inquilts and overcoats. My dad always brought hot

chocolate with us because it was so cold.

Ann Armbruster

Rev.WilliamRoyDowden



We always attended the Easter Sunrise Services atHodges Gardens each year. It was always cold, and

we had to wrap up in blankets.

Addison Sandel (pictured on right)

I remember we would pick wild azaleas

(honeysuckle), violets and other wild owers at theGardens when we went there as children.

Sammy Sandel Morales (pictured on left)

the gardens, he told his student interviewers. The gardens

were a big part of our lives. Dowden said, I could tell you

about Frank and Jesse (James) too. They came through here

a few times. They went to church down at Toro.

Brenda Stroud Anderson was born in 1943 at the

gardens. She said, I was born in the house that later becamethe wardens house. She and her husbands favorite dates

were trips to the gardens. She recalled, My present and only

husband we would come to Hodges Gardens. My little sister

came with us. We didnt go out alone back then.

Sisters Sammy Sandel Morales and Addison Sandel

grew up near the Gardens. Mrs. Sandel said, There was a

little stream with perfectly clear water. It was like a mirror. I

mourned the loss of that stream. (The stream was the source

of the lake at the Gardens.)

Mrs. Morales was the manager of the Hodges Gardens

Motel just across HWY 171 from the Gardens. She rememberswhen actress Farrah Fawcett came to visit the Gardens. She

was a beautiful girl and young too.

TELL ME A STORY....CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

We lived near Mill Creek, where you ground meal

from corn at the grist meal. There was a swimminghole there and we always went swimming. Lots of

times we wore a baseball suit from school. We didnthave swimming suits back then.

Thelma Hardin Miller

He (Mr. Hodges) hadthe greatest bird col-

lection that I ever saw.It was one whole wall

of birds. (Boehm)

He gave everything he

had to these gardens.

I remember thecreek. It was cold andclear. You could walkup and see the sh

in it. You could evendrink the water from

it. I wouldnt do thattoday.

DorisKnippers

We played on the rockquarry and the boys slid

down the hills on pinestraw. Those boys you

could hear them a-holler-ing and whooping.

It was a wonderful timeto live in the Gardens

before it was developed.

He (Mr. Hodges) wouldgo visiting everybody

who lived around theGardens.

EulaDurrett



A Note from the Manager

My thanks to the Friends of Hodges Gardens for creating

this newsletter and for giving me the opportunity to update

you on what is happening at Hodges. If you havent been

to the park lately, please take the opportunity to come see

our progress.

This has been the most beautiful Spring that Hodges has

seen in a long time. It is the time of year that Old Mother

Nature just takes over and needs little help from us. She also

works on her own timetable as was evident this year with the

later bloom season.

Our staff has been focused on restoration and cleanup

in the past three years, and their hard work shows. We have

started adding special collections to the gardens, which

is going to add interest as well as decrease the number of

annuals we are required to produce. Our garden staff consists

of only four employees, so they have a lot of area to cover.The hydrangea collection has been added to the main garden

and the dogwood collection is spread out over the entire park.

We hope to add more in the near future.

We are working extremely hard to bring back many of

the favorite events and attractions from the past that everyone

loved so much. We are also creating new events that will

hopefully become part of the regular programming. The

traditional Easter Sunrise Service with Centenary choir and

community choir members returned in 2009 and will continue

to be an annual event. The Easter Egg Hunt and Duck Races

on the Saturday before Easter have gotten larger each yearsince 2008. In 2009, we started the Star Gazing Party. This

event grew to an attendance of 225 for the 2010 event!

One of our top priorities has been to provide a place for

students and teachers to experience nature education outside

the classroom. Getting kids outside is so important in todays

fast paced technological society. We celebrated Earth Day in

April with Sabine and Vernon Parish Elementary and Middle

School students. In June, we will begin our third year of

hosting the Sabine Parish P.A.L.S. summer school, and i

just keeps getting better every year. Family Day this year is

scheduled for June 25 and it is sure to be a big event!There is never a dull moment at the park! Please join us

at the Gardens to experience their beauty and to participate

in all the special events and activities.

Kim Kelly

Hodges Gardens State Park Manager

Areayoungsters

participatedin

theannualRubber

DuckRacesatHodges

Gardenstheweek

beforeEaster.

Alargegroupof

children,parentsand

friendsenjoyedthe

childrens

eventwhichisa

traditionatthe

Gardens.



Many of us wondered if Old Man Winter would

ever loosen his hold so that Spring could come with its

welcome relief.Horticulturally speaking, we have had a very

interesting winter/spring. Fortunately, it began with a

cool fall which allowed plants to acclimate to the winter

which was to come. Then, we didnt get the cold-warm

cycle so common to deep South winters. Even though

we had a really cold winter, it was not damaging to our

plants. Indeed, it seems many trees appreciated the long

dormant season.

Everything was late in blooming by two to three

weeks. Our Azaleas nally came into bloom, but it seems

the bloom season was shortened. Dianthus and Snapsopened up late and are still doing well. Two real winners

for this winter were Erysimum- -an underappreciated form

of wallower and Stocks- Midget Mix. Both are grown

as annuals. We normally plant our cool-season annuals in

the fall, and both of these began blooming and continued

through the cold of winter, even in the snow! A welcome

aspect of Stocks is that they are sweetly fragrant.

Our Old Fashioned Garden, which was replanted with

a variety of Old Roses last Spring, is absolutely beautiful.

One is met at the gates by the fragrance of Old Garden

Petunias and Stocks. The Poppies get a lot of attentionsome visitors prefer the subtle colors of the Icelandics

Others like the bold orange of the Californias or the deep

reds of the Corn Poppies. Foxgloves and Hollyhocks

dominate the back of the Garden. On a more diminutive

scale, we have a good collection of Sweet Williams

Cottage Pinks, and Cheddar Pinks. These plants have

been appreciated since medieval times, and were used

for garden beauty, fragrance, and even seasoning.

The Old Roses seemed to really have beneted from

the long dormant season. Even though only being planted

within the last year, the roses really brokeout with a strong ush of growth and tons

of blooms. One could easily spend hours

studying the different classes, varieties

and blooms. Without a question, the

brightest bloom is Rhumba (Floribunda

1958). The different classes and varieties

seem to have different qualities of

fragrance. If I had to pick a favorite it

might be the spicy, sweet fragrance of

Etoile de Holland (Hybrid Tea 1919)

The rst to bloom were- no surprise- Old

Blush (China 1752) and Old Gay Hill Red

China (China Found). One of the prettiest

forms of bloom is Surville (Hybrid Tea

1924) with its nodding, cabbage shaped

blossoms. We look forward to seeing this

Garden develop as the roses mature.

HodgesGardensHorticulturalist Tommy Adams

Spring 2010



HODGES GARDENS STATE PARK

Spring/SummerSCHEDULEOFEVENTS

MAY

1 Planning an Herb Garden @ 10AM1 Twilight Concert Vernon & Sabine

High School Bands

2 Nature Hike @ 10AM

8 Bear Island Canoe Adventure @ 8AM

9 Whats in a Buttery Garden @ 10AM

15 2nd Annual Herb Festival

16 Herb Garden Tour @ 10AM

22 Long Leaf Pine Stump Hike @ 10AM

23 Nature Hike @ 10AM

27 Full Moon in the Gardens with guidedNight Hike

30 Hydrangea Tour @ 9:30AM

JUNE

All Month PALS

5 Hydrangea Tour @ 9:30AM

5 Bog Garden Tour @ 1PM

6 Hydrangea Tour @ 1PM

12 Free Day in the Park for National GetOutdoors Day

13 Nature Hike @ 1PM

19 Longleaf Pine Stump Hike @ 9AM

20 Hodges Family Reunion


27 Nature Hike @ 1PM

JULY

2 Craft Day starting @ 9AM4 Fireworks Display ??????????

9 Craft Day starting @ 9AM

10 Longleaf Pine Stump Hike @ 9AM

11 Petried Wood @ 9AM


17 Caterpillars @ 9AM

18 Caterpillars @ 9AM


24 Dragonies @ 9AM25 Nature Hike @ 9AM



AUGUST

1 Nature Walk @ 9:30

7 Bats are Benecial @ 9:30

8 Buttery Garden Tour @ 9:3014 Bear Island Canoe Adventure @ 8AM

15 Nature Walk @ 9:30

21 Bog Garden Tour @ 9:30

22 Bugs, Bugs, Bugs @ 9:30


27 Petried Wood @ 9:30



TheBoardA.J.&Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Len Musick

Members at Large . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Edith Palmer and James Wagley

Sabine Parish Tourist Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Curtis-Sparks

Vernon Parish Tourist Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Crook

Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . John Byrd and Mary Beth Brocato

Louisiana Equine Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peggy Bianchi and Sybille Waruszcak

Louisiana Craft Guild (Art Park) .. . . . . . . . Doug Stannard and Tony McDonald

Centenary College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Hobson and Will Andress

Sabine Master Gardeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vicki Holbrook and Anita Thedford

TheExecutiveCommitteeJohn Byrd president . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ([email protected]) 318-256-5991

Mary Beth Brocato vice president . . . . . . ([email protected]) 318-256-5809

Peggy Bianchi secretary . . . . . ([email protected]) 337-238-5428

Edith Palmer treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . .([email protected]) 318-256-2036

These people have indicated their support for HodgesGardens State Park by purchasing one-year memberships

in the Friends of Hodges Gardens non-prot organization.We thank them for their support and hope that you, too,will become a member and enjoy the many benets ofthis worthwhile, tax-free organization. Memberships are

available in dierent categories and include passes to theGardens (year-long passes for contributions at $100 levelor above), free admission to all events, subscription to the

quarterly newsletter, and many other benets. Pleasee-mail or call any member of the executive committeefor information on how to become a Friend of HodgesGardens State Park. You may also contact any member of

the board of directors.

FriendsofHodgesGardensStatePark

Boardofdirectors,executivecommittee,

andmembers

John Byrd

Bobbie Kratz

Maribeth Lewing

Peggy Bianchi

Sibyllie Waruszcak

Mary Ann JonesMary Beth Brocato

Edith J. Palmer

Bonnie Fox Miles

Janice Hutton

Anita Thedford

Ann Carver

Carroll Ellzey

Tammy Foster

Tom Dunigan

Kristi McCormick

Jan MertenKathy Johnson

Fred and Teresa Fraser

Mary Jo Wright

Chris Gary

Karla Buckner

Brenda Anderson

Judy House

Beth Mann

Gerald Knippers

Dinah Medine

Mayor Ken FreemanKaren Morrow

Buddy Wood

Linda Curtis-Sparks

Doug Stannard

Carol Pattison

2010 NSU Press Publications

Editor, Mary Beth Brocato

Graphic Designer, Beth Mann

Hg Spring 2010 News-web

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