"The Constant Gardener" Has
Hopkins County Connections
by: Bobby McDonald
"The Constant Gardener" is the title to a popular murder mystery, that has been adapted to the silver screen. However, another "constant gardener" has his "roots" firmly planted in Hopkins County. He's Jimmy Turner, Garden Designer and Director of Horticulture Research at the Dallas Arboretum.
Jimmy Turner, Garden Designer and Director of Horticulture Research at the Dallas Arboretum, has
his "roots" firmly planted in the Pickton Community of Hopkins County.
When you go and see the over 400,000 beautiful blooms on display at this year's "Dallas Blooms 2006," who would have ever guessed that the designer of the beautiful creation, spent the summers of his youth with his grandparents in Pickton? Jimmy Turner is the grandson of lifelong Pickton residents, Mrs. Venice Turner and Mrs. Bea Hawthorne, and a regular visitor to Hopkins County. Why, he has even brought a few vintage Iris and daffodil bulbs to the Dallas Arboretum, from his grandmothers' gardens, just a "bit" of Hopkins County that's gone to the "big city!"
Some of the beautiful over 400,000 tulips that are on display for this year's Dallas Blooms--2006,
at the Dallas Arboretum Complex. They are in every color imaginable.
Jimmy, the son of Dude and Judy Hawthorne Turner, is a 1984 graduate of Lone Oak High School, and states that he is "the luckiest guy in the world," as he gets to get up every morning and do what he has wanted to do since he was 6 years old!" Jimmy's love for the Plant World, began at an early age, and he naturally chose a career path that began with taking Horticulture classes at East Texas State University. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Horticulture, in 1988. Then, it was off to Penn State University, for a Masters Degree in Horticulture, that he obtained in 1990.
Northeast Texas native, Jimmy Turner, pauses from his busy schedule of getting things ready for
Dallas Blooms--2006, and discusses one of his favorite places in the garden. The Palm Garden has been
made possible by a large endowment and will be developed by Jimmy, in the coming months, with varieties
from all across the nation.
With his "roots" firmly planted in East Texas, Jimmy returned to the Dallas area and began his career working for a series of nurseries in the Metroplex, but soon his vast knowledge of plants and their growing patterns landed him a position on the Advisory Board for the Dallas Arboretum. Three years ago, the Aboretum Board of Directors came to him with a job offer that he couldn't refuse. They asked him to come and be the designer of the nationally acclaimed gardens, that rank in the top 3 gardens in the United States, and attracts over 385,000 visitors to the exhibit annually. Visitors will come from all 50 states and over 50 foreign countries to witness "Dallas Blooms--2006."
The "Eiffel Flower" presentation has been featured in "Southern Living" magazine's March Issue, with a beautiful display of the gardens and recommended varieties for the Northeast Texas region.
Dallas Blooms--2006 has been entitled "Eiffel Flower," and features a giant, 15 foot replica of Paris' Eiffel Tower, that is surrounded by a festive topiary and thousands of blooming flowers, including tulips, daffodils, impatiences, and other spring varieties, known to produce outstanding color in Northeast Texas. And, Jimmy, is the person responsible for each variety, mixture, and landscaping technique, to produce the beautiful show. Later in the year, he will be traveling to Holland to secure additional varieties for future shows and to plant in his Test Garden, in an effort to continue selecting varieties adaptable to Northeast Texas.
The over 400,000 tulip bulbs arrive in November, where they have been kept in cold storage at a pre-chilled temperature range of 45 to 50 degrees, for eight weeks. Most all varieties planted at the Dallas show are of the "Single Lates" bulb variety, that seem to thrive in the region and produce maximum color.
"We have 22 gardeners that are responsible for planting the bulbs, that begin planting the week of Thanksgiving, and complete the project just before New Year's Day," explains Jimmy. "And, the varieties that we use have been thoroughly tested in our test gardens, the previous season, to make certain which ones will give the most color, have the longest blooming season, and withstand the weather of this region."
All varieties used in this year's display have been thoroughly tested in the Test Gardens of the Arboretum, by Jimmy and
his staff, and they are able to recommend those varieties that do well in Northeast Texas gardens.
The Dallas Arboretum employs a total staff of 85 people, that oversee the daily operation of the exhibits and special programs offered by the center, located on Garland Road. Staff have been extremely busy this season, with the opening of several new attractions for those attending this year's show. The final phase of the 2.5 acre Woman's Garden, the McCasland Family Sunken Garden, and the Boswell Family Garden, will be new additions for 2006.
Dallas Blooms--2006, opens Friday, March 10th, and continues thru April 17th, with daily hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The show features over 400,000 spring-blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and Dutch iris, 20,000 azaleas, and over 100,000 pansies, violas, and poppies, besides the thousands of other spring-blooming annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, that are the staples in the 66 acre Dallas Arboretum Complex.
Mark your calendar to attend Dallas Blooms--2006, and see the creative efforts of the little boy who came to visit in Pickton, each summer of his youth!
For information regarding tours of Dallas Blooms--2006, you may contact Karen Vassar, a Tyler native and Director of Marketing, at (214)515-6516, or visit the website at www.dallasarboretum.org.
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Dallas Blooms -- 2006
March 10 - April 17th
